[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2758 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2758
To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act
of 1998 to establish a national food safety training, education,
extension, outreach, and technical assistance program for agricultural
producers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 9, 2009
Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Sanders,
Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Bingaman, and Mr. Leahy) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act
of 1998 to establish a national food safety training, education,
extension, outreach, and technical assistance program for agricultural
producers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Growing Safe Food Act of 2009''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY TRAINING, EDUCATION, EXTENSION, OUTREACH,
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Education Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting after section
404 (7 U.S.C. 7624) the following:
``SEC. 405. NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY TRAINING, EDUCATION, EXTENSION,
OUTREACH, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Agricultural producer group.--The term `agricultural
producer group' means a group--
``(A) the mission of which includes working on
behalf of agricultural producers, grower-shippers,
packers, distributors, and processors; and
``(B) a majority of the membership and board of
directors of which are agricultural producers, grower-
shippers, packers, distributors, and processors.
``(2) Beginning farmer.--The term `beginning farmer' means
a farmer who, as determined by the Secretary--
``(A) has not operated a farm or who has operated a
farm for not more than 10 years;
``(B) materially and substantially participates in
the operation of the farm; and
``(C) provides substantial day-to-day labor and
management of the farm.
``(3) Conservation systems.--The term `conservation
systems' means conservation practices, activities, and
management measures that are based on local resource conditions
and the standards and guidelines contained in the Natural
Resources Conservation Service field office technical guides.
``(4) Market value of agricultural products.--The term
`market value of agricultural products' means gross income
derived from--
``(A) the production of agricultural commodities
and unfinished raw forestry products;
``(B) the production of livestock and products
produced by, or derived from, livestock;
``(C) the production of farm-based renewable
energy;
``(D) the processing, packing, storing, and
transporting of farm and forestry commodities,
including renewable energy;
``(E) the feeding, rearing, or finishing of
livestock (exclusive of the cost or other basis of
livestock purchased for resale); and
``(F) any other similar market activity related to
farming or forestry, as determined by the Secretary.
``(5) National integrated food safety initiative.--The term
`national integrated food safety initiative' means the
integrated research, education, and extension competitive
grants program carried out under section 406.
``(6) Small and medium-sized farm.--The term `small and
medium-sized farm' means a farm on which the market value of
agricultural products, averaged over the most recent 3-year
period for which data are available (including the market value
generated by all of the individuals or legal entities that
operate or have an ownership interest in the farm) does not
exceed $1,000,000.
``(7) Small food processors.--The term `small food
processor' has the meaning given the term by the Secretary.
``(8) Small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesaler.--The
term `small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesaler' has the
meaning given the term by the Secretary.
``(9) Socially disadvantaged farmer.--The term `socially
disadvantaged farmer' has the same meaning given the term
`socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher' in section 355(e) of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
2003(e)) with respect to a farmer.
``(10) Sustainable agriculture.--The term `sustainable
agriculture' has the meaning given the term in section 1404 of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
``(b) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a
competitive grant program to provide food safety training,
education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance to--
``(A) owners and operators of farms;
``(B) small food processors; and
``(C) small fruit and vegetable merchant
wholesalers.
``(2) Applicability.--Food safety training, education,
extension, outreach, and technical assistance provided under
this section shall relate only to foods under the authority of
the Commissioner of Food and Drugs and not to foods under the
authority of the Secretary.
``(3) Integrated approach.--To the maximum extent
practicable, the Secretary shall carry out the program under
this section in a manner that integrates food safety standards
and guidance with sustainable agriculture and conservation
systems.
``(4) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to projects that target small and
medium-sized farms, small processors, and small fresh fruit and
vegetable merchant wholesalers.
``(5) Coordination.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall coordinate
implementation of the program under this section with
the national integrated food safety initiative.
``(B) Interaction.--The Secretary shall--
``(i) in carrying out the program under
this section, take into consideration applied
research, education, and extension results
obtained from the national integrated food
safety initiative; and
``(ii) in determining the applied research
agenda for the national integrated food safety
initiative, take into consideration the needs
articulated by the user community served by
projects funded by the program under this
section.
``(c) Grants.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall make competitive grants to support training,
education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance
projects to increase understanding and implementation of food
safety standards, guidance, and protocols developed under
chapter IV of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21
U.S.C. 341 et seq.), including, as appropriate to the targeted
customer group--
``(A) good agricultural practices;
``(B) good handling practices;
``(C) good manufacturing practices;
``(D) produce safety standards;
``(E) risk analysis and preventative control
mechanisms,
``(F) sanitation standard operating procedures;
``(G) safe packaging and storage systems;
``(H) recordkeeping for product sourcing and sales,
including traceability standards if relevant;
``(I) food safety audits and certification; and
``(J) other similar activities, as determined by
the Secretary.
``(2) Encouraged features.--The Secretary shall encourage
projects carried out using grant funds under this section to
include features that provide training, education, extension,
outreach, and technical assistance in sustainable agriculture
and conservation systems.
``(3) Organic agriculture.--The Secretary may make grants
under this section to projects that target farms that have, or
are transitioning to, certified organic production under the
national organic program established under the Organic Foods
Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).
``(4) Maximum term and size of grant.--
``(A) In general.--A grant under this section
shall--
``(i) have a term that is not more than 3
years; and
``(ii) be in an amount that is not more
than $600,000 each year.
``(B) Consecutive grants.--An eligible recipient
may receive consecutive grants under this section.
``(d) Grant Eligibility.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant under this
section, the recipient shall be--
``(A) a State cooperative extension service;
``(B) a Federal, State, local, or tribal agency;
``(C) a nonprofit community-based or
nongovernmental organization;
``(D) an institution of higher education (as
defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) or a foundation maintained
by an institution of higher education;
``(E) an agricultural producer group;
``(F) a collaboration of 2 of more eligible
recipients described in this subsection; or
``(G) such other appropriate recipient, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(2) Multistate partnerships.--Grants under this section
may be made for projects involving more than 1 State.
``(e) Project Evaluation Criteria.--
``(1) In general.--In making grants under this section, the
Secretary shall evaluate proposals based on the extent to which
the proposed project--
``(A) demonstrates relevancy, technical merit, and
achievability;
``(B) demonstrates knowledge of the goals and
requirements of chapter IV of the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) that are
directly relevant to the proposed project;
``(C) benefits small and medium-sized farms, small
processors, and small fresh fruit and vegetable
merchant wholesalers;
``(D) reaches beginning farmers, socially
disadvantaged farmers, and underserved geographic
areas;
``(E) demonstrates a successful track record in
training and outreach programs with the community to be
served;
``(F) includes adequate outreach plans;
``(G) demonstrates a capacity to reach a large
percentage of eligible participants in the targeted
customer group;
``(H) includes adequate plans for a participatory
evaluation process and outcome-based reporting;
``(I) leverages cash and in-kind contributions from
State, local, and private sources;
``(J) includes substantive, funded collaborations
between eligible recipients, including nonprofit
community-based or nongovernmental organizations and
agricultural producer groups; and
``(K) maximizes other appropriate factors, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(2) Regional balance.--In making grants under this
section, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, ensure--
``(A) geographic diversity; and
``(B) diversity of types of agricultural
production.
``(f) Relationship to Other Programs.--
``(1) Interagency coordination.--The Secretary shall
coordinate implementation of the program under this section
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to
food safety standards, guidance, and protocols developed under
chapter IV of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21
U.S.C. 341 et seq.).
``(2) Consistency.--
``(A) In general.--Projects funded by this program
shall be consistent with--
``(i) sustainable agriculture;
``(ii) conservation practices (as defined
in section 1240A of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-1)); and
``(iii) conservation activities (as defined
in section 1238D of that Act (16 U.S.C.
3838d)).
``(B) Organic standards.--With respect to certified
organic production, projects funded under this section
shall be consistent with the national organic program
established under the Organic Foods Production Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).
``(g) Reporting Requirements.--The Secretary shall require grant
recipients to submit--
``(1) annual reports; and
``(2) at the completion of the grant period, an evaluation
of the project funded under this section.
``(h) Curriculum and Training Material Clearinghouse.--The
Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with any entity
eligible to receive a grant under this section for the purpose of
establishing a nationwide online clearinghouse of information relating
to the on-farm production, harvesting, packing, transporting, and
processing of safe food that makes available educational curricula and
training materials and programs that further the purposes of this
section.
``(i) Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may use funds made
available under subsection (k) to provide technical assistance
to grant recipients to further the purposes of this section.
``(2) Types.--Technical assistance under paragraph (1)
may--
``(A) be in the form of a train-the-trainer
program; and
``(B) include or be provided by food safety
extension teams of the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture.
``(j) Best Practices for State Programs.--Based on evaluations of
projects funded under this section, the Secretary shall recommend on an
iterative basis a set of best practices and models for food safety
training programs for agricultural producers and small food processors.
``(k) Authorization for Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each fiscal
year, of which--
``(1) not more than 3 percent may be used for a curriculum
and training materials clearinghouse under subsection (h);
``(2) not more than 10 percent may be used for technical
assistance under subsection (i); and
``(3) not more than 4 percent may be used for
administrative costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out
this section.''.
(b) Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive
Grants Program.--Section 406(c) of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626(c)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``Grants under'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--Grants under''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Emphasis.--In carrying out the food safety initiative
under this section, the Secretary shall emphasize integrated
projects that address priority research, education, and
extension needs relevant to implementing this Act and other
applicable agricultural research laws, including projects
that--
``(A) aid in the development and repeated
improvement of food safety standards, guidance, and
protocols, including produce standards and guidance;
``(B) analyze on an iterative basis the most
critical points of risk in the food system for fresh
produce and other raw agricultural commodities;
``(C)(i) determine conservation and biodiversity
standards and practices that positively address food
safety concerns; and
``(ii) develop education and decision support tools
to assist landowners with those standards and
practices;
``(D) investigate methods to reduce the impact of
animals of significant risk on contamination of food;
``(E) identify low-cost, effective food safety
practices for highly diversified agricultural
operations;
``(F) develop decision support tools to aid in the
effective implementation of whole-farm food safety
plans; and
``(G) address other similar topics, as determined
by the Secretary.''.
<all>