[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6500 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6500
To expand the availability of programs of the Department of Agriculture
to veteran farmers and ranchers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 24, 2018
Mr. Walz (for himself, Mr. Denham, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Bost,
Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr. O'Rourke, Ms.
Esty of Connecticut, Mr. Kind, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York,
Mr. Kilmer, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, and
Mr. Carbajal) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expand the availability of programs of the Department of Agriculture
to veteran farmers and ranchers, 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 ``Veteran Empowerment and Training to
Facilitate Agricultural Revitalization and Mobilization Act of 2018''
or the ``VET-2-FARM Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS FOR VETERAN
FARMERS AND RANCHERS.
(a) Definition of Veteran Farmer or Rancher.--Section 2501(e)(7) of
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
2279(e)(7)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) is a veteran (as defined in section 101 of
that title) who has first obtained status as a veteran
(as so defined) during the most recent 10-year
period.''.
(b) Federal Crop Insurance.--
(1) Definition of veteran farmer or rancher.--Section
502(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1502(b)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(12) Veteran farmer or rancher.--The term `veteran farmer
or rancher' means a farmer or rancher who--
``(A) has served in the Armed Forces (as defined in
section 101 of title 38, United States Code); and
``(B)(i) has not operated a farm or ranch;
``(ii) has operated a farm or ranch for not more
than 10 years; or
``(iii) is a veteran (as defined in section 101 of
that title) who has first obtained status as a veteran
(as so defined) during the most recent 5-year
period.''.
(2) Crop insurance.--Section 508 of the Federal Crop
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(5)(E), by inserting ``, and
veteran farmers or ranchers'' before the period at the
end;
(B) in subsection (e)(8)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting
``and veteran'' after ``beginning''; and
(ii) by inserting ``or veteran farmer or
rancher'' after ``beginning farmer or rancher''
each place it appears; and
(C) in subsection (g)--
(i) in paragraph (2)(B)(iii), in the matter
preceding subclause (I), by inserting ``or
veteran farmer or rancher'' after ``beginning
farmer or rancher'' each place it appears; and
(ii) in paragraph (4)(B)(ii)(II), by
inserting ``and veteran farmers or ranchers''
after ``beginning farmers or ranchers''.
(3) Education and risk management assistance.--Section
524(a)(4) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1524(a)(4)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) veteran farmers or ranchers.''.
(c) Down Payment Loan Program.--Section 310E of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1935) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``qualified beginning
farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or
ranchers'' and inserting ``eligible farmers or ranchers'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``recipients
of the loans'' and inserting ``farmers or ranchers'';
(B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following:
``(3) encourage retiring farmers and ranchers to assist in
the sale of their farms and ranches to eligible farmers or
ranchers by providing seller financing;''; and
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``for beginning
farmers or ranchers or socially disadvantaged farmers
or ranchers'' and inserting the following: ``for--
``(A) beginning farmers or ranchers;
``(B) socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers,
as defined in section 355(e); or
``(C) veteran farmers or ranchers, as defined in
section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))''; and
(D) in paragraph (5), by striking ``a qualified
beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged
farmer or rancher'' and inserting ``an eligible farmer
or rancher''; and
(3) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
``(e) Definition of Eligible Farmer or Rancher.--In this section,
the term `eligible farmer or rancher' means--
``(1) a qualified beginning farmer or rancher;
``(2) a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, as
defined in section 355(e); and
``(3) a veteran farmer or rancher, as defined in section
2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e)).''.
(d) Interest Rate Reduction Program.--Section 351(e)(2)(B) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1999(e)(2)(B)) is
amended--
(1) in the subparagraph heading, by inserting ``and
veteran'' after ``Beginning'';
(2) in clause (i), by inserting ``or veteran farmers and
ranchers (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
2279(e)))'' before the period at the end; and
(3) in clause (ii), by striking ``beginning''.
(e) National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach,
and Technical Assistance Program.--Section 405(c) of the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C.
7625(c)) is amended by inserting ``veteran farmers or ranchers (as
defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))),'' after ``socially disadvantaged
farmers,''.
(f) Administration and Operation of Noninsured Crop Assistance
Program.--Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform
Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) is amended--
(1) in subsection (k)(2), by inserting ``, or a veteran
farmer or rancher (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
2279(e)))'' before the period at the end; and
(2) in subsection (l)(4)--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting
``veteran,'' before ``and socially''; and
(B) by inserting ``and veteran farmers or ranchers
(as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 2279(e)))'' before ``in exchange''.
(g) Funding for Transition Option for Certain Farmers or
Ranchers.--Section 1241(a)(1)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3841(a)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``beginning farmers or
ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers'' and inserting
``covered farmers or ranchers, as defined in section 1235(f)(1)''.
(h) Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance.--
(1) Definition of covered producer.--Section 1501(a) of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(a)) is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as
paragraphs (2) through (5), respectively; and
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(1) Covered producer.--The term `covered producer' means
an eligible producer on a farm that is--
``(A) as determined by the Secretary--
``(i) a beginning farmer or rancher;
``(ii) a socially disadvantaged farmer or
rancher; or
``(iii) a limited resource farmer or
rancher; or
``(B) a veteran farmer or rancher, as defined in
section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e)).''.
(2) Emergency assistance for livestock, honey bees, and
farm-raised fish.--Section 1501(d) of the Agricultural Act of
2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(d)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(4) Payment rate for covered producers.--In the case of a
covered producer that is eligible to receive assistance under
this subsection, the Secretary shall provide reimbursement of
90 percent of the cost of losses described in paragraph (1) or
(2).''.
SEC. 3. AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT AVAILABLE TO VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Section 219 of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6919) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraphs:
``(5) provide information to veterans concerning the
availability of, and eligibility requirements for, positions
identified within the Department of Agriculture that are
available to employ or train veterans;
``(6) consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, and the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration with respect
to carrying out activities that assist veterans with
agriculture-related employment; and
``(7) establish and periodically update the website
described in subsection (d).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(d) Website Required.--
``(1) In general.--The website required under subsection
(b)(7) shall include the following:
``(A) Positions identified within the Department of
Agriculture that are available to veterans for
apprenticeships.
``(B) Apprenticeships, programs of training on the
job, and programs of education that are approved for
purposes of chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code.
``(C) Employment skills training programs for
members of the Armed Forces carried out pursuant to
section 1143(e) of title 10, United States Code.
``(D) Information designed to assist businesses,
nonprofit entities, educational institutions, and
farmers interested in developing apprenticeships, on-
the-job training, educational, or entrepreneurial
programs for veterans in navigating the process of
having a program approved by a State approving agency
for purposes of chapter 36 of title 38, United States
Code. Such information shall include each of the
following:
``(i) Contact information for relevant
offices in the Department of Defense,
Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of
Labor, and Small Business Administration.
``(ii) Basic requirements for approval by
each State approving agency.
``(iii) Recommendations with respect to
training and coursework to be used during
apprenticeships or on-the-job training that
will enable a veteran to be eligible for
agricultural programs.
``(iv) Examples of successful programs and
curriculums that have been approved for
purposes of chapter 36 of title 38, United
States Code (with consent of the organization
and without any personally identifiable
information).
``(2) Review of website.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the
date of the enactment of this paragraph, and once every
5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a study
to determine if the website required under subsection
(b)(7) is effective in providing veterans the
information required under paragraph (1).
``(B) Ineffective website.--If the Secretary
determines that the website is not effective under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall--
``(i) notify the agriculture and veterans
committees of such determination; and
``(ii) not earlier than 180 days after the
date on which the Secretary provides notice
under clause (i), terminate the website.
``(C) Agriculture and veterans committees
defined.--In this paragraph, the term `agriculture and
veterans committees' means--
``(i) the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives;
``(ii) the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;
``(iii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the House of Representatives; and
``(iv) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the Senate.
``(e) Consultation Required.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall consult with organizations that serve veterans.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 296(b) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(9) The authority of the Secretary to carry out
amendments made to this title by the Veteran Empowerment and
Training to Facilitate Agricultural Revitalization and
Mobilization Act of 2018.''.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON VETERANS EMPLOYED IN AGRICULTURE.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of
Agriculture shall provide a report to the agriculture and veterans
committees that includes the following:
(1) Positions identified within the Department of
Agriculture that are, on the date of such report, available for
apprenticeships by service members or veterans.
(2) A summary of the information on such positions that has
been provided to the Department of Defense, the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Labor.
(3) A summary of measures taken to partner with the
Department of Defense to identify and develop potential career
skills programs for service members who transition out of the
armed services.
(4) The information the Department of Agriculture is
disseminating to agricultural entities to help such entities
contact the Department of Defense to establish career skills
programs.
(5) The information the Department of Agriculture has
provided to the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans
Affairs, Small Business Administration, and the Department of
Labor on available apprenticeships or on-the-job training
available to veterans.
(6) Information on how agricultural entities can contact
the Department of Agriculture for technical assistance in
establishing Department of Labor approved apprenticeships and
Department of Defense approved on-the-job training
opportunities.
(b) Agriculture and Veterans Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``agriculture and veterans committees'' has the meaning given
the term in subsection (d)(2)(C) of section 219 of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6919), as added by
this Act.
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