A bill to support nutrition, farmers, the seafood industry, agricultural research, wood energy and innovation, and indigenous self-determination, and for other purposes.

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
In this Act, the term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
Section 4206 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 7518) is amended—
in subsection (b)(1)(A)(iv), by striking subclause (II) and inserting the following:
a public or Tribal elementary or secondary school;
in subsection (c), by striking competitive distribution of subgrants and inserting distribution of subgrants or other financial assistance;
in subsection (d)—
in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking subsection (g) and inserting subsection (h); and
by striking paragraph (3);
in subsection (e)—
in the subsection heading, by inserting and other financial assistance after Subgrants;
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (A)—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting or other financial assistance provided after subgrant; and
in clause (ii), by striking $10,000 and inserting $25,000;
in subparagraph (B)—
in the first sentence, by inserting described in clauses (ii) through (v) of subsection (b)(1)(A) after an eligible entity; and
in the second sentence, by striking an individual who otherwise meets and inserting those eligible entities that otherwise meet; and
in subparagraph (C), by inserting or other financial assistance provided after subgrant;
in paragraph (2)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking competitive distribution of subgrants under subsection (c) and inserting distribution of subgrants or other financial assistance under this section; and
in subparagraph (A), by inserting or other financial assistance provided after subgrant;
in paragraph (3), by inserting or other financial assistance under this section after subgrants;
in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting or other financial assistance provided after subgrant; and
in paragraph (5), by inserting or other financial assistance after subgrant;
by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (g) and (h), respectively;
by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
Of the amount received by an agricultural department or agency of an eligible State under subsection (c), some may be used by the agricultural department or agency to provide, or to enter into a contract with a nonprofit entity to provide, an educational or training course or technical assistance designed to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food for food insecure individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities.
in subsection (g) (as so redesignated)—
in paragraph (1)—
by inserting or other financial assistance after subgrant each place it appears; and
in subparagraph (B), by striking subgrants by eligible entities and inserting subgrant or other financial assistance by the eligible entity; and
by adding at the end the following:
No eligible State or eligible entity shall be required, as a condition of receiving a subgrant or other financial assistance under this section, to monitor or report on, or meet disposition requirements relating to, real property or capital improvements, insurance coverage, or depreciation considerations, as described in sections 200.310, 200.311, 200.330, and 200.436 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), for projects that would build or enhance permanent structures the purpose of which is to improve food security over the long term.
Subtitle A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
In this section:
The term eligible community means—
a frontier community that—
is located in a noncontiguous State;
does not have a food bank or food pantry as of the date of submission of an application for a grant or loan under this section; and
is determined to be Frontier Level 4 in accordance with the most recent version of the Frontier and Remote Communities Code developed by the Economic Research Service; and
a rural community that—
is located in a noncontiguous State;
does not have a food bank or food pantry as of the date of submission of an application for a grant or loan under this section; and
is determined to be Frontier Level 3 in accordance with the most recent version of the Frontier and Remote Communities Code developed by the Economic Research Service.
The term eligible entity means—
an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
a Tribal organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); and
an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code.
The Secretary shall establish a program to provide grants and loans to eligible entities to establish food banks or food pantries in eligible communities.
An eligible entity that receives a grant or loan under subsection (b) may use the grant or loan for—
the construction or renovation of facilities;
wages and benefits for employees;
equipment to keep food and beverages cold or frozen, as appropriate;
transportation of foods and beverages from rural hub communities to outlying villages, including by air, barge, or surface transportation; and
such other activities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the interest rate of a loan under subsection (b) shall be established by the Secretary, for each quarter of the applicable fiscal year, based on the rate prescribed in Rural Development Instruction 440.1, exhibit B (or a successor instruction), as in effect on the date on which the loan is approved.
The interest rate established under paragraph (1) shall be adjusted to the nearest 1/8 of 1 percent.
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), before the closing date of a loan under subsection (b), the eligible entity applying for the loan may submit to the Secretary a written request that the interest rate to be charged for the loan be equal to the lesser of—
the interest rate in effect on the date of the loan approval; and
the interest rate in effect on the date of the loan closing.
If a request submitted under subparagraph (A) is approved by the Secretary providing that the applicable interest rate shall be the interest rate in effect on the date of the loan closing, the interest rate charged on a loan involving multiple advances of Federal funds using temporary debt instruments shall be the interest rate in effect on the date on which the first applicable temporary debt instrument is issued.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000.
Section 7(k) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(k)) is amended—
by striking on-line each place it appears and inserting online;
in paragraph (1), by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the requirements of this subsection;
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
A retail food store seeking to accept benefits from recipients of supplemental nutrition assistance through online transactions shall submit to the Secretary for approval a plan that includes—
a method of ensuring that benefits may be used to purchase only eligible items under the supplemental nutrition assistance program;
a description of the method of educating participant households about the availability and operation of online purchasing;
adequate testing of the online purchasing option prior to implementation;
the provision of data, as requested by the Secretary, to analyze the impact of the project on participant access, ease of use, and program integrity;
recipient protections regarding privacy, ease of use, access, and support similar to the protections provided for transactions made in retail food stores;
except as provided in paragraph (4), a method to ensure benefits are not used to pay delivery, ordering, convenience, or other fees or charges;
clear notification to participating households at the time a food order is placed of any delivery, ordering, convenience, or other fee or charge associated with the food purchase;
a method to ensure the security of online transactions by using the most effective technology available that the Secretary considers appropriate and cost-effective and that is comparable to the security of transactions at retail food stores; and
any other criteria established by the Secretary.
by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
Benefits may be used for the fees and charges described in paragraph (2)(F) in the case of the purchase of foods that must be delivered to, but not within, a rural hub community or outlying village in a noncontiguous State.
The Secretary shall establish a formal process for consultation with State agencies, retail food stores authorized under section 9 (including retail food stores serving rural and frontier communities), electronic benefit transfer processors, consumer advocates, and other relevant stakeholders to incorporate lessons learned from online purchasing operations during the period of 2014 through 2025.
Not later than 120 days after the effective date of this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report describing the consultation process under paragraph (5) and recommendations received.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall promulgate such regulations and issue such guidance as are necessary to carry out this subsection, which shall be informed by the consultation conducted under paragraph (5).
Section 4(a)(2)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(a)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Notwithstanding subparagraphs (C) through (F) of section 16(c)(1), the Secretary shall not establish a liability amount (as defined in subparagraph (C) of that section) or designate an at-risk amount (as defined in subparagraph (D)(i)(II) of that section) for a State that owes a State share pursuant to this paragraph.
Section 16(c)(7) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(7)) is amended—
in subparagraph (A), by inserting or section 4(a)(2)(B) after paragraph (1); and
in subparagraph (B), by inserting or section 4(a)(2)(B) after paragraph (1)(C).
Section 16(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II)) is amended—
by striking thereafter, the amount and inserting the following:
thereafter—
the amount
in item (aa) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and
by adding at the end the following:
in the case of households that reside in a region for which cost adjustments in the thrifty food plan are made under section 3(u)(3)(A), 20 percent of the maximum allotment for a 1-person household in that region.
Section 11(m) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(m)) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting serving residents living after agents.
Section 203D of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7507) is amended—
in subsection (b)—
by striking distribution, to store, handle or distribute and inserting the following: “distribution—
to store, handle, or distribute
in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
by adding at the end the following:
to purchase locally produced food in accordance with the pilot program established under subsection (g).
by adding at the end the following:
The Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall permit emergency feeding organizations participating in the program authorized by this Act to use those funds to purchase locally produced food to supplement the commodities provided by the Secretary under this Act.
In this section, the term eligible entity means an individual or entity that is an agricultural producer or owns or operates, or seeks to own or operate, a commercial food processing operation that—
holds a commercial license issued by a noncontiguous State; and
carries on a farming business (within the meaning of section 263A(e)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986); or
conducts a commercial food processing operation that is a small business concern (as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)).
The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the Arctic Agriculture Accelerator Loan Program, to provide—
loans to eligible entities to start or expand a small commercial food processing operation; and
forgiveness of those loans in accordance with subsection (f).
To apply for a loan under subsection (b)(1), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of activities described in subsection (d) that the eligible entity will carry out using the loan.
An eligible entity that receives a loan under subsection (b)(1) may use the loan funds for the purchase and installation of equipment, the construction or renovation of facilities, or any other activity to create or expand the capacity of the eligibility entity to process, store, or distribute locally produced food.
The amount of a loan under subsection (b)(1) shall be—
$150,000 in the case of an eligible entity that owns or operates, or seeks to own or operate, a small commercial food processing operation for specialty crops or grains; and
$250,000 in the case of an eligible entity that owns or operates, or seeks to own or operate, a small commercial food processing operation for meat, poultry, egg, aquaculture, or wild-caught fish products.
The Secretary shall forgive the indebtedness of a borrower of a loan under subsection (b)(1) if the Secretary determines that the borrower has successfully carried out the activities described in the application submitted by the borrower under subsection (c).
There is authorized to be appropriated for the cost of loans and forgiveness of loans to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Section 1621(c)(3)(B) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8792(c)(3)(B)) is amended by striking $15,000,000 and inserting $20,000,000.
Section 281(1) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638(1)) is amended—
in subparagraph (B), by striking The term and inserting Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the term; and
by adding at the end the following:
The term covered commodity includes crab that—
is wild fish; and
has been cooked, including by frying, broiling, grilling, boiling, steaming, baking, and roasting.
Section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking farming. and inserting farming or commercial fishing.;
in paragraph (2), by striking farming. and inserting farming and commercial fishing.; and
by adding at the end the following:
The term commercial fishing means fishing (as defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802)) in which the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are intended to enter commerce or enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade.
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term fish—
means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of aquatic animal and plant life; but
does not include—
marine mammals; or
birds.
Section 303(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1923(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
A commercial fisher may use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for—
acquiring a commercial fishing permit; and
acquiring, operating, and maintaining a commercial fishing vessel.
Section 312 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1942) is amended by adding at the end the following:
A commercial fisher may use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for acquiring, operating, and maintaining a commercial fishing vessel.
Section 210A(d)(6) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(d)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
For purposes of this paragraph, an agricultural commodity or product described in subsection (a)(12) shall include fish (as defined in paragraph (14)(B) of section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))).
In this section:
The term mariculture means shellfish and aquatic plants grown under controlled conditions.
The term rural community means a coastal community located in a rural area (as defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))).
The term seafood means wild-caught finfish and shellfish.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall develop an action plan to facilitate increased domestic processing of United States-caught seafood and mariculture.
The action plan developed under paragraph (1) shall include—
an identification of coastal communities in which—
commercial fishing is a significant economic driver; and
there exists a need, and voiced community desire, for the creation of new (or rehabilitation of existing) seafood processing infrastructure to allow those communities—
to effectively process the catch of the communities locally; and
to provide for the local and domestic market;
an identification of coastal communities with existing or developing mariculture operations in which processing infrastructure is not sufficient to meet the needs of the mariculture operations;
a consideration of the diversity of coastal communities, including geographic diversity;
an assessment of the number of coastal communities described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) that qualify as rural communities; and
an analysis of the current domestic seafood supply chain, including a carbon footprint.
The action plan developed under paragraph (1) shall include a selection of 5 coastal communities across the United States that would be eligible for the grants and cooperative agreements under subsection (c).
In developing the action plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall provide a meaningful stakeholder engagement process that—
prioritizes outreach and engagement through methods that effectively reach residents of rural communities described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (2); and
provides an opportunity for public comment regarding a draft of the action plan, and incorporation of any comments received by the date that is 60 days after the end of the public comment period.
Using funds made available under subsection (f), the Secretary shall, for the period of fiscal years 2027 and 2028, make competitive grants or enter into cooperative agreements—
to support pilot projects for new seafood or mariculture processing infrastructure in eligible communities selected under subsection (b)(3);
to support pilot projects for the rehabilitation, repair, or retrofitting of existing seafood or mariculture processing infrastructure in those eligible communities;
to host onsite local training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for working waterfront populations in those communities; or
to provide preference for community members from those eligible communities in the startup of pilot seafood or mariculture processing facilities exclusively designed for serving domestic and local markets, which shall include—
entrepreneurship and business training;
financial and risk management training; and
food safety and recordkeeping.
To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a cooperative agreement under paragraph (1), the recipient of the grant or participant in the cooperative agreement shall be—
a collaborative State, Tribal, local, or regionally based network or partnership of public or private entities; or
an individual seafood or mariculture processing company.
In making grants or entering into cooperative agreements under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to—
projects that commit—
to sell a substantial quantity of seafood domestically, as determined by the Secretary;
to meaningful local-hire practices, as determined by the Secretary;
to avoiding additional overburdening of rural communities, such as by minimizing additional vehicular traffic; and
to supporting innovative transportation networks to minimize adverse impacts on adjacent communities;
projects that—
colocate with, or supply, community fish markets or community-based seafood distributors, such as local farmers’ markets;
would retrofit or update existing infrastructure; and
are zoned for mixed use, such as a processing plant with an adjacent community fish market; or
include partnerships with schools or organizations that address food security and hunger; and
community-based businesses and organizations with expertise in working with rural communities and coastal communities.
In making grants or entering into cooperative agreements under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall evaluate, with respect to applications for the grants or cooperative agreements—
relevancy;
technical merit;
achievability, expertise, and track record; and
equity and environmental justice impacts.
A grant or cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) shall be for an amount and term determined appropriate by the Secretary.
Any Federal agency may participate in any grant or cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) by contributing funds, if the contributing agency determines that the objectives of the grant or cooperative agreement will advance the authorized programs of the contributing agency.
A recipient of a grant or a party to a cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) may not use more than 10 percent of the funds received for the indirect costs of carrying out the grant or cooperative agreement.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall submit to Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the action plan developed under subsection (b) and the grants and cooperative agreements made or entered into under subsection (c), including—
an assessment of social and economic benefits resulting from projects carried out using those grants and cooperative agreements; and
recommendations—
to improve the effectiveness of the action plan and the grants and cooperative agreements; and
to expand projects carried out using the grants and cooperative agreements to additional coastal communities.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal agency shall permit, authorize, or otherwise regulate commercial finfish aquaculture operations in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States (as established by Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983), except in accordance with a law authorizing such an action that is enacted after the date of enactment of this Act.
No Federal funds available to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be used to award grants to facilitate or otherwise regulate finfish aquaculture in Federal waters.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1)—
$200,000 shall be used to carry out subsection (b) during fiscal year 2027, to be divided equally between the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce;
$200,000 shall be used to carry out subsection (d) during fiscal year 2028; and
the remaining amounts shall be used, subject to paragraphs (3) and (4)—
to carry out subsection (c); or
for expenses relating to the administration of this section.
A majority of the amount made available to carry out subsection (c) for any fiscal year shall be used to support coastal communities that are rural communities.
Not more than 5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year may be used for expenses relating to the administration of this section.
The purpose of this section is to support projects that promote the reuse, recycling, and sustainable use of marine products from the seafood industry.
In this section:
The term eligible entity means—
an academic institution;
a nonprofit organization; and
a for-profit company.
The term marine product means—
chitin derived from marine animals, including crustaceans, mollusks, and the scales, shells, or waste of any marine animal;
seaweed;
marine waste from seafood; and
any other product or byproduct of the seafood industry that, in the determination of the Secretary—
would ultimately end in a landfill or other waste disposal facility if not reused, recycled, or put to use in a manner consistent with the purpose of this section; and
demonstrates promise for reuse, recycling, or sustainable use.
The term reuse, recycling, or sustainable use, with respect to a marine product, includes use of the marine product—
as a fertilizer;
as a biostimulant;
as a component in a plastic alternative;
in soil amendment and remediation;
in wastewater treatment; and
for collagen extraction.
The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities for projects that involve the reuse, recycling, or sustainable use of 1 or more marine products from the seafood industry.
The Secretary shall set aside 50 percent of the amounts appropriated to carry out the program established under paragraph (1) to make grants to eligible entities that are domiciled, or have an operating location, in a State that, as determined by the Secretary, is among the States with the greatest length of coastline.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
Title II of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
In this subtitle:
The term fish means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of aquatic animal and plant life other than aquatic mammals and birds.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
A retailer of fish or person engaged in the business of supplying fish to a retailer may label the fish as wild USA seafood, wild American seafood, or any equivalent designation only if—
the fish is—
naturally born in the wild; or
a hatchery-originated fish released in the wild;
the fish is caught, taken, or harvested from—
waters within the exclusive economic zone (as defined in section 107 of title 46, United States Code); or
navigable waters (as defined in section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362)); and
if the fish is caught, taken, or harvested by a vessel, that vessel is a vessel of the United States (as defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802)).
The information described in subsection (a) may be provided to consumers by means of a label, stamp, mark, placard, or other clear and visible sign on the fish, or on the package, display, holding unit, or bin containing the fish, at the final point of sale to consumers.
If fish is already individually labeled for retail sale with the label described in subsection (a), the retailer shall not be required to provide any additional information to comply with this section.
If the Secretary determines that a retailer of fish or person engaged in the business of supplying fish to a retailer is in violation of section 298B, the Secretary shall—
notify the retailer or person of the determination of the Secretary; and
provide the retailer or person a 30-day period, beginning on the date on which the retailer or person receives the notice under paragraph (1) from the Secretary, during which the retailer or person may take necessary steps to comply with section 298B.
The Secretary may fine a retailer or person under paragraph (2) if, on completion of the 30-day period described in subsection (a)(2), the Secretary determines that the retailer or person—
has not made a good faith effort to comply with section 298B; and
continues to willfully violate section 298B with respect to the violation regarding which the retailer or person received a notification under subsection (a)(1).
After providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing before the Secretary with respect to the violation described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may fine the retailer or person in an amount equal to not more than $10,000 for each violation.
The Secretary may promulgate such regulations as are necessary to implement this subtitle.
Notwithstanding subtitle E of title II of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639 et seq.), or any other provision of law, for purposes of applying the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), the acceptable market name of any fish product that is genetically engineered shall include the words Genetically Engineered or GE prior to the existing acceptable market name.
For purposes of this section, a fish product shall be considered to be genetically engineered if the fish product has been modified by recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques, including the entire lineage of fish that contain the rDNA modification.
Notwithstanding subtitle E of title II of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639 et seq.) or any other provision of law, for purposes of applying the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), the acceptable market name of any fish product that is laboratory-grown shall include the word Cultivated prior to the existing acceptable market name.
For purposes of this section, a fish product shall be considered to be cultivated if the fish product is derived from the harvested cells of fish and grown in a laboratory setting.
Subtitle B of title VI of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7651 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain available until expended, for agricultural research at 1862 Institutions and State agriculture agencies in States that do not have an Agricultural Research Service facility, to address the research priorities of those States.
Subtitle H of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 is amended by inserting after section 1673 (7 U.S.C. 5926) the following:
In this section:
The term eligible entity means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)).
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
The Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities for the research and development of the suitability of cold-water seaweed species for reduction of enteric methane through livestock feed additives.
The Secretary shall give priority in providing grants under subsection (b) for the following types of research:
Research conducted on which varieties of seaweed inhibit methane production.
Research conducted on which varieties of seaweed that inhibit methane production can grow in cold-water climates.
Research conducted on whether bromoform from seaweed causes any effects on the ozone.
Research conducted on what level of shelf-life seaweed could have if produced on a large scale.
Research conducted on whether, and to what extent, large-scale production of seaweed has environmental effects.
Research conducted on how seaweed affects livestock biology if used as livestock feed.
Research conducted on whether seaweed affects human health if used as livestock feed.
Research conducted on how knowledge of the ability of seaweed to inhibit methane production would affect the market value of seaweed products, including—
the largest entities or sectors that would potentially purchase seaweed products;
potential market prices for livestock feed containing seaweed additives; and
the potential role of greenhouse gas emission credits in supporting the reduction of enteric methane using seaweed.
In providing grants under subsection (b), the Secretary shall—
select recipients on the basis of the quality of the proposed research project; and
award not less than 50 percent of funding to eligible entities in States that, as determined by the Secretary, are among the States with the greatest length of coastline.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Section 1672E of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925g) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (5), by striking production; and inserting production or preservation;; and
in paragraph (6), by inserting , including those in circumpolar regions before the semicolon; and
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1), by striking or at the end;
in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and
by adding at the end the following:
areas designated as frontier or remote areas.
In this section:
The term coastal seaweed farming means the onshore or nearshore propagation and harvesting of seaweed and products derived from seaweed that—
does not use any—
synthetic pesticide (as defined in section 2 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136)); or
plastic, unless a suitable replacement does not exist; and
does not produce finfish for commercial purposes.
The term seaweed means any macroscopic, multicellular marine algae species.
The term Secretaries means—
the Secretary; and
the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly submit to Congress, and publish on the websites of the Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a preliminary report analyzing the following:
The effects of coastal seaweed farming on—
surrounding communities;
the ecosystem; and
marine and coastal wildlife.
Best practices for cultivating and sourcing local seeds to propagate for coastal seaweed farming, including practices based on traditional ecological knowledge.
Best practices, including practices based on traditional ecological knowledge, to prevent the escape or spread during coastal seaweed farming of any organism that would—
alter the natural ecosystem; or
present a biofouling risk.
Best practices, including practices based on traditional ecological knowledge, relating to species selection, harvesting cycles, spatial planning and siting, engineering and design, and environmental aspects of coastal seaweed farming that—
maximize benefits, and avoid adverse effects, on the marine ecosystem and marine and coastal wildlife;
lead to optimal yields;
account for the impact climate change may have on natural habitats and coastal seaweed farming operations;
minimize entanglements and other harmful interactions between marine life and nearshore seaweed farming infrastructure and gear;
account for changes in migration patterns of marine mammals and highly migratory species (as defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802)); and
account for, and avoid interference with, competing uses, including vessel traffic and commercial and recreational fishing.
The potential for growing seaweed for long-term carbon sequestration and best practices for measurement, reporting, and verification approaches for that growing, specific to the sequestration reservoir.
The effects of cocultivation of bivalves with seaweed on the ecosystem, ocean acidification, and hypoxia levels.
The effects of coastal seaweed farming on water quality.
Best practices for limiting the use of plastic in coastal seaweed farming gear.
The history and use of Indigenous and traditional seaweed farming practices.
Best practices for sustainable harvest and post-harvest processing of coastal seaweed farming products, including—
methods of reducing energy costs; and
methods based on traditional ecological knowledge.
Scalable commercial applications for value-added seaweed or products derived from seaweed, including as feedstock for animals and other agricultural, commercial, and industrial applications.
Processes for processing, storage, and transportation of seaweed that—
are cost-effective and efficient; and
reduce carbon emissions from transportation.
Existing and potential markets and market capacity for major cultivated seaweed species.
Baseline economic analyses and business planning models for major cultivated seaweed species.
The effects of water quality on the quality of cultivated seaweed for human consumption, including the absorption of toxic heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants.
Best practices for onshore seaweed farming issues that reduce energy requirements to pump water, include management of effluent and spatial planning, and address conflicting uses of the onshore coastal zone.
Best practices in efficient and effective Federal and State regulatory systems for coastal seaweed farming.
In preparing the report under subparagraph (A), the Secretaries shall consult or engage, as appropriate, with the following:
The Interagency Working Group on Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, with respect to—
the cultivation of kelp, seaweed, and shellfish;
the use of Tribal waters for coastal seaweed farming;
the impact and benefits of coastal seaweed farming on Tribal waters; and
best practices for engaging with Indian Tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) with respect to matters relating to coastal seaweed farming.
Indian Tribes (as so defined).
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (as defined in section 2 of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001)).
The Interagency Working Group on Research for Farming of Seaweeds and Seagrasses.
The Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification.
The Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture of the National Science and Technology Council.
Such other agencies as the Secretaries determine to be appropriate.
Not later than 2 years after the date on which the report under paragraph (1) is submitted, the Secretaries shall submit to Congress an updated report based on pertinent information derived from Federal research programs and other sources of information.
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the preliminary report under subsection (b)(1) is published, the Secretaries, in consultation with the Chief of Engineers, shall promulgate and implement such regulations as the Secretaries determine to be appropriate—
to ensure that design, development, siting, species selection, operation, and production systems of coastal seaweed farming maximize potential benefits to, and avoid potential adverse effects on, the marine ecosystem, wildlife, and fisheries and surrounding communities;
to establish evaluation metrics to measure the impact and benefits of coastal seaweed farming on—
the marine ecosystem, including marine wildlife, biodiversity, productivity, water quality, and stored carbon; and
surrounding communities, including relating to the equitable distribution of costs and benefits (including economic and environmental costs and benefits) within those communities; and
to require monitoring and reporting relating to—
any adverse effects on the marine ecosystem and wildlife, including entanglements of marine life; and
any effects on commercial and recreational fishing.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretaries, to be allocated between the Secretaries as the Secretaries determine to be appropriate—
$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to complete the preliminary report under subsection (b)(1);
$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which—
$1,000,000 shall be used for the updated report under subsection (b)(2); and
$2,000,000 shall be used to promulgate and implement regulations pursuant to subsection (c); and
$1,000,000 for fiscal year 2030 to complete the updated report under subsection (b)(2).
Section 9013 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8113) is amended—
in subsection (a)(1)(A)—
in clause (ii), by striking and at the end;
in clause (iii)(II), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
by adding at the end the following:
involves services and equipment for the processing and distribution of woody biomass materials.
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1)—
by striking make grants to cover and inserting the following:
make grants—
to cover
in subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
by adding at the end the following:
for the processing and distribution of woody biomass products.
in paragraph (2), by inserting or in the case of processing and distribution of woody biomass products for a school or hospital in a low-income community, after community,; and
in subsection (d), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking or innovative wood product facility project and inserting , an innovative wood product facility project, or a project for the processing and distribution of woody biomass products.
This section may be cited as the American Grown Act.
In this section:
The term covered agency means—
the Executive Office of the President;
the Department of Defense; and
the Department of State.
The term covered entity means—
a foreign government; and
an agent of a foreign principal (as defined section 1 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended (22 U.S.C. 611)).
The term cut flower means a flower removed from a living plant for decorative use.
The term cut green means a green, foliage, or branch removed from a living plant for decorative use.
The term qualifying area means—
a State;
the District of Columbia;
a territory or possession of the United States; and
an area subject to the jurisdiction of a federally recognized Indian Tribe.
Funds appropriated or otherwise available to a covered agency may only be used for the procurement of a cut flower or cut green if the cut flower or cut green is grown in a qualifying area.
This subsection shall apply to a procurement made or contracted for—
in the United States; and
on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
A covered agency may only accept a gift of a cut flower or cut green that is not grown in a qualifying area from a covered entity for the purpose of displaying the cut flower or cut green if—
the origin of the cut flower or cut green is clearly displayed at the time of delivery; and
at the time of delivery, the covered agency procures an additional cut flower or cut green that is grown in a qualifying area to display during the period of display of the gift.
A covered agency that accepts a gift of a cut flower or cut green from a covered entity under paragraph (1) shall clearly display the origin of the cut flower or cut green during the period of display of the cut flower or cut green.
Title I of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
The Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into self-determination contracts, in accordance with subsection (c), with Tribal organizations, on the request of any Indian Tribe, by Tribal resolution—
to plan, conduct, and administer any function, service, or activity provided by the Forest Service or the Natural Resources Conservation Service for the Indian Tribe; or
subject to subsection (b), to carry out the authority of the Food Safety and Inspection Service under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.).
Before requesting to enter into a self-determination contract described in subsection (a)(2), a Tribal organization shall adopt, by Tribal resolution, a food and agriculture code approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, after which the Secretary of Agriculture shall exercise the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture under Public Law 87–718 (7 U.S.C. 1633) with respect to the Indian Tribe governed by that Tribal organization.
An Indian Tribe operating under a contract described in subsection (a)(2) shall be eligible for grant and loan programs under paragraphs (19) and (24) of section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)).
A self-determination contract entered into under subsection (a) shall have the same terms and conditions, and be subject to the same procedures, regulations, and requirements, as a self-determination contract entered into under section 102, except that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture shall be the appropriate Secretary and agency for purposes of a self-determination contract entered into under subsection (a).
The Office of Self-Governance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs shall provide technical assistance with respect to self-determination contracts under subsection (a)—
to the Secretary of Agriculture; and
to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations that request that assistance.
After an Office of Self-Governance is established in the Department of Agriculture, the Office of Self Governance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs may continue to provide technical assistance under paragraph (1), subject to the condition that self-determination contracts under subsection (a) shall be primarily negotiated and executed by the Office of Self-Governance of the Department of Agriculture.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of a Tribal self-governance demonstration project for appropriate programs, services, functions, and activities of the Department of Agriculture.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report detailing—
the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1); and
a plan to establish an Office of Self-Governance in the Department of Agriculture to carry out—
the results of that study; and
the amendment made by subsection (a).
The Secretary shall develop the plan described in paragraph (2)(B) in consultation with Indian Tribes, the Office of Tribal Relations of the Department of Agriculture, and the Tribal Advisory Committee established under section 309(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6921(b)).
Not later than 18 months after the date on which the Secretary submits the report under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall implement the plan described in the report.
Section 23 of the Act of Act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 861, chapter 431; 25 U.S.C. 47) (commonly known as the Buy Indian Act), is amended—
in subsection (a)(3)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking and at the end;
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
by adding at the end the following:
the Secretary of Agriculture.
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (3), by striking and the Department of Health and Human Services and inserting , the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Agriculture; and
in paragraph (4), by striking and the Indian Health Service and inserting , the Indian Health Service, and the Department of Agriculture; and
in subsection (d)(1), by striking Committee on Indian Affairs and all that follows through House of Representatives and inserting Committees on Indian Affairs and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committees on Natural Resources and Agriculture of the House of Representatives.
Section 306D(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926d(c)) is amended by inserting and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium after State of Alaska.
Section 1419B(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3156(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by inserting , for up to 5 years, after competitive grants;
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (C), by striking and at the end;
in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
by adding at the end the following:
to purchase, rent, or lease scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purchases; and
to renovate, repair, and improve classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities.
in paragraph (3), by striking 2023 and inserting 2050.