HR 5087 — SEAS Act

(a) Definition of policy In this section, the term “policy” means a policy, plan of insurance, provision of a policy or plan of insurance, and related materials. (b) Reimbursement of research, development, and maintenance costs (1) Research and development payment (A) In general The Corporation shall provide a payment to an applicant for research and development costs in accordance with this subsection. (B) Reimbursement (i) In general An applicant who submits a policy under section 1508(h) of this title shall be eligible for the reimbursement of reasonable research and development costs if the policy is approved by the Board for sale to producers. (ii) Reasonable costs For the purpose of reimbursing research and development and maintenance costs under this section, costs of the applicant shall be considered reasonable costs if the costs are based on— (I) for any employees or contracted personnel, wage rates equal to not more than 2 times the hourly wage rate plus benefits, as provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the year in which such costs are incurred, calculated using the formula applied to an applicant by the Corporation in reviewing proposed project budgets under this section on October 1, 2016; and (II) other actual documented costs incurred by the applicant. (2) Advance payments (A) In general Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, the Board may approve the request of an applicant for advance payment of a portion of reasonable research and development costs prior to submission and approval of the policy by the Board under section 1508(h) of this title. (B) Procedures The Board shall establish procedures for approving advance payment of reasonable research and development costs to applicants. (C) Concept proposal As a condition of eligibility for advance payments, an applicant shall submit a concept proposal for the policy that the applicant plans to submit to the Board under section 1508(h) of this title, consistent with procedures established by the Board for submissions under subparagraph (B), including— (i) a summary of the qualifications of the applicant, including any prior concept proposals and submissions to the Board under section 1508(h) of this title and, if applicable, any work conducted under this section; (ii) a projection of total research and development costs that the applicant expects to incur; (iii) a description of the need for the policy, the marketability of and expected demand for the policy among affected producers, and the potential impact of the policy on producers and the crop insurance delivery system; (iv) a summary of data sources available to demonstrate that the policy can reasonably be developed and actuarially appropriate rates established; and (v) an identification of the risks the proposed policy will cover and an explanation of how the identified risks are insurable under this subchapter. (D) Review (i) Experts If the requirements of subparagraph (B) and (C) are met, the Board may submit a concept proposal described in subparagraph (C) to not less than 2 independent expert reviewers, whose services are appropriate for the type of concept proposal submitted, to assess the likelihood that the proposed policy being developed will result in a viable and marketable policy, as determined by the Board. (ii) Timing The time frames described in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 1508(h)(4) of this title shall apply to the review of concept proposals under this subparagraph. (E) Approval (i) In general The Board may approve up to 50 percent of the projected total research and development costs to be paid in advance to an applicant, in accordance with the procedures developed by the Board for the making of the payments, if, after consideration of the reviewer reports described in subparagraph (D) and such other information as the Board determines appropriate, the Board determines that— (I) the concept, in good faith, will likely result in a viable and marketable polic...

(a) Establishment of grant program (1) In order to promote research in food, agriculture, and related areas, a research grants program is hereby established in the Department of Agriculture. (2) Short Title.— This section may be cited as the “Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act”. (b) Agriculture and food research initiative (1) Establishment There is established in the Department of Agriculture an Agriculture and Food Research Initiative under which the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this subsection as “the Secretary”) may make competitive grants for fundamental and applied research, extension, and education to address food and agricultural sciences (as defined under section 3103 of this title). (2) Priority areas The competitive grants program established under this subsection shall address the following areas: (A) Plant health and production and plant products Plant systems, including— (i) plant genome structure and function; (ii) molecular and cellular genetics and plant biotechnology; (iii) conventional breeding, including cultivar and breed development, selection theory, applied quantitative genetics, breeding for improved food quality, breeding for improved local adaptation to biotic stress and abiotic stress, and participatory breeding; (iv) plant-pest interactions and biocontrol systems; (v) crop plant response to environmental stresses; (vi) unproved nutrient qualities of plant products; and (vii) new food and industrial uses of plant products. (B) Animal health and production and animal products Animal systems, including— (i) aquaculture; (ii) cellular and molecular basis of animal reproduction, growth, disease, and health; (iii) animal biotechnology; (iv) conventional breeding, including breed development, selection theory, applied quantitative genetics, breeding for improved food quality, breeding for improved local adaptation to biotic stress and abiotic stress, and participatory breeding; (v) identification of genes responsible for improved production traits and resistance to disease; (vi) improved nutritional performance of animals; (vii) improved nutrient qualities of animal products and uses; (viii) the development of new and improved animal husbandry and production systems that take into account production efficiency, animal well-being, and animal systems applicable to aquaculture; (ix) the research and development of surveillance methods, vaccines, vaccination delivery systems, or diagnostic tests for pests and diseases, including— (I) epizootic diseases in domestic livestock (including deer, elk, bison, and other animals of the family Cervidae); and (II) zoonotic diseases (including bovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis) in domestic livestock or wildlife reservoirs that present a potential concern to public health; and (x) the identification of animal drug needs and the generation and dissemination of data for safe and effective therapeutic applications of animal drugs for minor species and minor uses of such drugs in major species. (C) Food safety, nutrition, and health Nutrition, food safety and quality, and health, including— (i) microbial contaminants and pesticides residue relating to human health; (ii) links between diet and health; (iii) bioavailability of nutrients; (iv) postharvest physiology and practices; and (v) improved processing technologies. (D) Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment Natural resources and the environment, including— (i) fundamental structures and functions of ecosystems; (ii) biological and physical bases of sustainable production systems; (iii) soil health; (iv) minimizing soil and water losses and sustaining surface water and ground water quality; (v) the effectiveness of conservation practices and technologies designed to address nutrient losses and improve water quality; (vi) global climate effects on agriculture; (vii) forestry; and (viii) biological diversity. (E) Agriculture systems and technology Engineering, products, and...

(a) In general There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter— (1) $7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 1991 through 2013; and (2) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023. (b) Prohibition on use Funds made available under this section may not be used to acquire or construct a building.