[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3420 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3420

   To promote urban agricultural production, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 28, 2016

 Ms. Stabenow introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To promote urban agricultural production, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Urban Agriculture 
Act of 2016''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
Sec. 3. Congressional findings and declaration of purposes.
            TITLE I--OUTREACH, COORDINATION, AND NEW POLICY

Sec. 101. Office of Urban Agriculture.
                 TITLE II--FARM ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 201. Farm business planning program.
Sec. 202. Urban agriculture cooperatives.
Sec. 203. Risk management.
Sec. 204. Expanded loans for farm equipment.
                   TITLE III--A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT

Sec. 301. Soil assessment.
Sec. 302. Innovative urban conservation.
Sec. 303. Pilot projects to increase community compost.
Sec. 304. Healthy food healthy environment pilot program.
             TITLE IV--RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 401. Urban food production and market data initiatives.
Sec. 402. Data collection on urban agriculture.
Sec. 403. Urban agriculture research, education, and extension 
                            initiative.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.

    In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
Agriculture.

SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) agricultural producers are developing innovative 
        agricultural production methods and using traditional 
        production methods in innovative locations;
            (2) those urban agricultural practices have the potential--
                    (A) to create jobs and workforce development;
                    (B) to increase food production;
                    (C) to support local food infrastructure;
                    (D) to create new regional markets for agricultural 
                producers, consumers, and businesses;
                    (E) to revitalize abandoned or underused property 
                and buildings;
                    (F) to enhance urban green space and improve air 
                quality;
                    (G) to provide pollinator habitat;
                    (H) to encourage community engagement;
                    (I) to mitigate stormwater runoff;
                    (J) to create energy efficiencies;
                    (K) to strengthen relationships between urban 
                consumers and agriculture; and
                    (L) to inspire a new generation of agricultural 
                producers in the United States; and
            (3) to realize those benefits, the Secretary should 
        comprehensively incorporate urban agriculture into the vision 
        of the Department of Agriculture to provide economic 
        opportunity through innovation, promoting agricultural 
        production that--
                    (A) better nourishes the people of the United 
                States; and
                    (B) preserves the natural resources of the United 
                States.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to establish a consistent and coordinated approach 
        within the Department of Agriculture to support urban 
        agriculture;
            (2) to articulate a broadly inclusive description of urban 
        agriculture that includes--
                    (A) new and innovative agricultural practices;
                    (B) traditional agricultural practices in 
                nontraditional locations; and
                    (C) for-profit and nonprofit production methods; 
                and
            (3) to promote activities including urban farming, edible 
        gardens, green walls, rooftop agriculture, and indoor vertical 
        farms.

            TITLE I--OUTREACH, COORDINATION, AND NEW POLICY

SEC. 101. OFFICE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE.

    (a) In General.--The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act 
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subtitle J as subtitle K; and
            (2) by inserting after section 285 (7 U.S.C. 7005) the 
        following:

                    ``Subtitle J--Urban Agriculture

``SEC. 286. OFFICE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE.

    ``(a) Office.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish in the 
        Agricultural Marketing Service an Office of Urban Agriculture, 
        which shall be headed by a Director appointed by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Authorities.--The Office of Urban Agriculture shall 
        manage programs, coordinate agencies, and advise the Secretary 
        on urban agriculture and urban food systems, including--
                    ``(A) engaging in external relations with urban 
                agriculture stakeholders;
                    ``(B) facilitating interagency and cross-government 
                program coordination;
                    ``(C) creating resources that identify common State 
                and municipal best practices for navigating local 
                policies;
                    ``(D) developing and implementing new policy 
                recommendations;
                    ``(E) identifying and working with agencies to 
                update existing guidance for which agricultural 
                programs may not have clear policies for urban 
                production;
                    ``(F) coordinating resources for technical 
                assistance, training, and outreach; and
                    ``(G) other activities as determined by the 
                Secretary.
    ``(b) Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish an 
        Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee (referred to in this 
        subsection as the `Committee') to advise the Secretary on--
                    ``(A) the development of urban agriculture 
                production policies; and
                    ``(B) any other aspects of the implementation of--
                            ``(i) this section; and
                            ``(ii) the Urban Agriculture Act of 2016 
                        and amendments made by that Act.
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed 
                of 15 members of whom--
                            ``(i) 3 shall be individuals who are urban 
                        agricultural producers;
                            ``(ii) 1 shall be an individual who is an 
                        agricultural producer;
                            ``(iii) 2 shall be individuals with farm-
                        to-school expertise;
                            ``(iv) 2 shall be representatives from an 
                        institution of higher education or extension 
                        program;
                            ``(v) 1 shall be an individual who 
                        represents a public health organization;
                            ``(vi) 1 shall be an individual who 
                        represents an environmental organization;
                            ``(vii) 1 shall be an individual who 
                        represents a business development entity;
                            ``(viii) 1 shall be an individual who 
                        represents a city government or is an urban 
                        planner;
                            ``(ix) 1 shall be an individual who 
                        represents an urban food aggregator;
                            ``(x) 1 shall be an individual who has 
                        extensive experience with farmers markets; and
                            ``(xi) 1 shall be an individual from a 
                        nonprofit or advocacy group.
                    ``(B) Initial appointments.--The Secretary shall 
                appoint the members of the Committee not later than 180 
                days after the date of enactment of this section.
            ``(3) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), a member of the Committee shall be 
                appointed for a term of 3 years.
                    ``(B) Initial appointments.--Of the members first 
                appointed to the Committee--
                            ``(i) the members described in clauses (i) 
                        through (iii) of paragraph (2)(A) shall be 
                        appointed for a term of 3 years;
                            ``(ii) the members described in clauses 
                        (iv) through (vii) of paragraph (2)(A) shall be 
                        appointed for a term of 2 years; and
                            ``(iii) the members described in clauses 
                        (viii) through (xi) of paragraph (2)(A) shall 
                        be appointed for a term of 1 year.
                    ``(C) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Committee--
                            ``(i) shall not affect the powers of the 
                        Committee; and
                            ``(ii) shall be filled in the same manner 
                        as the original appointment.
            ``(4) Meetings.--
                    ``(A) Frequency.--The Committee shall meet not 
                fewer than 3 times per year.
                    ``(B) Initial meeting.--Not later than 60 days 
                after the date on which the members are appointed under 
                paragraph (2)(B), the Committee shall hold the first 
                meeting of the Committee.
            ``(5) Duties.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall--
                            ``(i) develop recommendations regarding--
                                    ``(I) the implementation of--
                                            ``(aa) this section; and
                                            ``(bb) the Urban 
                                        Agriculture Act of 2016 and 
                                        amendments made by that Act; 
                                        and
                                    ``(II) the establishment of ongoing 
                                urban agriculture policy priorities and 
                                goals;
                            ``(ii) review emerging policies and 
                        initiatives within the Office of Urban 
                        Agriculture;
                            ``(iii) evaluate and review ongoing 
                        research and extension activities;
                            ``(iv) identify new and existing barriers 
                        to successful urban agriculture practices; and
                            ``(v) provide additional assistance and 
                        advice to the Secretary as appropriate.
                    ``(B) Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                date of enactment of this section, and every year 
                thereafter, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary 
                a report describing the activities of the Committee 
                under subparagraph (A).
            ``(6) Personnel matters.--
                    ``(A) Compensation.--A member of the Committee 
                shall serve without compensation.
                    ``(B) Travel expenses.--A member of the Committee 
                shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
                lieu of subsistence, in accordance with section 5703 of 
                title 5, United States Code.
            ``(7) Termination.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Committee shall terminate on the date that is 5 years 
                after the date on which the members are appointed under 
                paragraph (2)(B).
                    ``(B) Extensions.--Before the date on which the 
                Committee terminates, the Secretary may renew the 
                Committee for one or more 2-year periods.
    ``(c) Community Garden Program.--The Secretary shall continue, 
within the Office of Urban Agriculture, a community garden program, 
under which the Director of the Office of Urban Agriculture shall--
            ``(1) develop tools and offer technical assistance, 
        education, and resources for community gardening and community 
        master gardener classes, in partnership with the National 
        Institute of Food and Agriculture;
            ``(2) consult with Federal building property managers to 
        develop community gardens on Federal property;
            ``(3) coordinate a network of community gardens across the 
        United States;
            ``(4) facilitate connections to local food banks, in 
        partnership with the Food and Nutrition Service; and
            ``(5) carry out other activities, as determined by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(d) Rooftop Agriculture and Outdoor Vertical Production 
Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish within the 
        Office of Urban Agriculture a rooftop agriculture and outdoor 
        vertical production program.
            ``(2) Activities.--The rooftop agriculture and outdoor 
        vertical production program shall include activities relating 
        to--
                    ``(A) providing technical assistance on the 
                planning and development of a rooftop farm;
                    ``(B) providing educational opportunities on 
                innovative and sustainable production methods;
                    ``(C) coordinating and sharing best practices of 
                rooftop agricultural producers;
                    ``(D) collaborating with other Federal agencies 
                that support green infrastructure improvements; and
                    ``(E) entering into cooperative agreements to 
                conduct research and test strategies that--
                            ``(i) develop new markets for products 
                        produced on rooftops;
                            ``(ii) evaluate rooftop farm feasibility;
                            ``(iii) determine building material 
                        efficiencies and upgrades to ensure structural 
                        safety and efficiency of rooftop farms;
                            ``(iv) measure environmental impacts of 
                        rooftop farms and green roofs;
                            ``(v) work with a network of farms to 
                        streamline production;
                            ``(vi) optimize growing potential for 
                        products grown on a rooftop; and
                            ``(vii) support other priorities important 
                        to rooftop farming, as determined by the 
                        Secretary.
    ``(e) Urban Agriculture Program Review.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Secretary shall review the 
        programs established under this section and other programs in 
        the Department that support urban agriculture.
            ``(2) Requirements.--The review conducted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include--
                    ``(A) a comprehensive analysis of resources of the 
                Department;
                    ``(B) a description of programs used by urban 
                agricultural producers;
                    ``(C) a review of outreach activities and program 
                promotion;
                    ``(D) an evaluation of updated policies and 
                guidance documents;
                    ``(E) a review of internal collaboration and 
                coordination;
                    ``(F) an evaluation of urban agricultural 
                ordinances adopted by State and local governments; and
                    ``(G) any priorities identified by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
        the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
        Senate a report describing the review conducted under paragraph 
        (1).
    ``(f) Urban Agriculture Impact Study.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Secretary shall conduct a 
        comprehensive study of urban agricultural activities to 
        evaluate the impacts of urban agriculture across the United 
        States.
            ``(2) Requirements.--The study conducted under paragraph 
        (1) shall measure--
                    ``(A) the community and social benefits of urban 
                agricultural activities;
                    ``(B) potential production;
                    ``(C) agricultural production site availability, 
                including--
                            ``(i) urban farm land;
                            ``(ii) rooftop production sites;
                            ``(iii) outdoor vertical growing spaces; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) indoor production sites;
                    ``(D) suitability of land for food production;
                    ``(E) the effectiveness of methods used to address 
                food security;
                    ``(F) new job opportunities and workforce 
                development;
                    ``(G) economic feasibility and opportunities 
                created;
                    ``(H) environmental impacts; and
                    ``(I) other activities, as determined by the 
                Secretary.
            ``(3) Report.--Not later than 2 years after date of 
        enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
        the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
        Senate a report describing the study conducted under paragraph 
        (1).
    ``(g) Grant Authority.--
            ``(1) Definition of eligible entity.--In this subsection, 
        the term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a community organization;
                    ``(B) a nonprofit organization;
                    ``(C) a municipality;
                    ``(D) a school or institution of higher education; 
                and
                    ``(E) any other entity as determined by the 
                Secretary.
            ``(2) Grants.--The Director of the Office of Urban 
        Agriculture may award competitive grants to eligible entities--
                    ``(A) to support urban agriculture development;
                    ``(B) to better coordinate program delivery; and
                    ``(C) to enhance community gardens.
            ``(3) Funding priority.--In awarding grants under this 
        subsection, priority shall be given to an eligible entity that 
        uses a grant received under this subsection--
                    ``(A)(i)(I) to plan and assess sites for gardens or 
                nonprofit farms; or
                            ``(II) to construct new gardens or 
                        nonprofit farms;
                    ``(ii) to operate community gardens or nonprofit 
                farms that--
                            ``(I) produce food for donation; and
                            ``(II) have a demonstrated environmental 
                        benefit and educational component; and
                    ``(iii) to educate a community on--
                            ``(I) nutrition; or
                            ``(II) pollinator health; or
                    ``(B) for other priorities, as designated by the 
                Secretary.
            ``(4) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity 
        Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this 
        subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 
        2021, to remain available until expended.
    ``(h) Producer Assistance.--Of the funds made available under 
subsection (j), the Secretary shall provide 50 percent to cooperative 
extension services (as defined in section 1404 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3103)) for the purpose of carrying out outreach and technical 
assistance provided under this section.
    ``(i) Farm Numbers.--The Secretary shall provide for the 
designation of a farm number (as defined in section 718.2 of title 7, 
Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of 
the Urban Agriculture Act of 2016)) for rooftop farms, indoor farms, 
and other urban farms, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts made 
available under subsection (g)(4), there is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each fiscal 
year.''.
    (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:
            ``(9) The authority of the Secretary to carry out subtitle 
        J.''.

                 TITLE II--FARM ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 201. FARM BUSINESS PLANNING PROGRAM.

    Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is 
amended by inserting after section 365 (7 U.S.C. 2008) the following:

``SEC. 366. FARM BUSINESS PLANNING PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definition of Urban Farmer.--In this section, the term `urban 
farmer' means a beginning farmer or rancher that is farming in an urban 
area, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(b) Requirement.--The Secretary shall, with respect to urban 
farmers--
            ``(1) identify and improve farm business education 
        programs; and
            ``(2) provide, and facilitate the provision of, technical 
        assistance.
    ``(c) Review and Implementation of Business Development Programs.--
            ``(1) Program review.--The Secretary shall conduct a review 
        of all farm business planning, education, outreach, and 
        technical assistance programs provided to beginning farmers and 
        ranchers, with a focus on urban farmers, to identify methods--
                    ``(A) to improve program delivery and outreach;
                    ``(B) to improve the longevity of new farm 
                enterprises;
                    ``(C) to increase financial literacy;
                    ``(D) to provide more ongoing business support;
                    ``(E) to develop and maintain good agricultural 
                practices and food safety recordkeeping materials; and
                    ``(F) to examine ways to improve interagency 
                interoperability of administrative and statistical 
                data.
            ``(2) Collaboration.--The Secretary shall consult and 
        collaborate with other Federal agencies to review related 
        business development programs for beginning farmers and 
        ranchers.
            ``(3) Program implementation.--After completing the program 
        review described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) develop and adopt best practices for program 
                delivery and provide the best practices to urban 
                farmers;
                    ``(B) implement strategies to improve the business 
                planning, budget skills, and financial literacy of 
                urban farmers; and
                    ``(C) based on the findings of the program review, 
                develop and implement performance metrics across the 
                Department of Agriculture to improve financial success 
                for each farmer--
                            ``(i) with little or no credit history; or
                            ``(ii) that is unable to qualify for 
                        traditional lines of credit.
    ``(d) Farm Management and Professional Development Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and 
        administer a voluntary program of farmer-to-farmer assistance 
        and mentorship between--
                    ``(A) established farmers, ranchers, and 
                agribusiness specialists; and
                    ``(B) beginning farmers and ranchers.
            ``(2) Goals.--The goals of the program under this 
        subsection shall be--
                    ``(A) to provide to beginning farmers and ranchers 
                (with a focus on urban farmers) assistance in farm 
                business management practices by improving--
                            ``(i) agribusiness acumen;
                            ``(ii) marketing operations;
                            ``(iii) the establishment of recordkeeping 
                        systems;
                            ``(iv) integrated use of risk management 
                        tools; and
                            ``(v) credit management;
                    ``(B) to transfer the knowledge and expertise of 
                established agricultural producers and businesses, on 
                an individual basis to beginning farmers and ranchers 
                that desire to participate in an ongoing mentorship and 
                professional development program; or
                    ``(C) to encourage the development of other farm-
                to-farm exchange programs for beginning farmers and 
                ranchers for expanded learning and training 
                opportunities.
    ``(e) Reports to Congress.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Urban Agriculture Act of 2016, the Secretary 
        shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
        and Forestry of the Senate a report that includes--
                    ``(A) a description of the programs under this 
                section;
                    ``(B) an outline of intended future performance 
                metrics--
                            ``(i) to improve the effectiveness of farm 
                        business development;
                            ``(ii) to support the collection of 
                        additional information on agricultural producer 
                        retention; and
                            ``(iii) to increase new market 
                        opportunities; and
                    ``(C) performance metrics that are specific to 
                urban farmers.
            ``(2) Annual progress report.--Each year during the 5-year 
        period beginning on the date on which the Secretary submits the 
        report described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit 
        to the Committees described in that paragraph an annual 
        progress report on the performance metrics outlined in the 
        report described in paragraph (1).
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2017 through 2021.''.

SEC. 202. URBAN AGRICULTURE COOPERATIVES.

    Section 310B(e)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)(2)) is amended by inserting ``, including centers 
located outside rural areas only if the focus of the activities of the 
center is agricultural production'' before the period at the end.

SEC. 203. RISK MANAGEMENT.

    Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act 
of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``, except for urban 
        agriculture production sites'' before the period at the end;
            (2) in subsection (l)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph 
                (6); and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
            ``(5) Alternative price calculations.--As an alternative to 
        the average market price calculation under paragraph (1)(B), 
        and notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the 
        Secretary may make assistance available to producers under this 
        subsection on a whole-farm, revenue, or yield basis using 
        contract or local prices, as determined by the Secretary.''; 
        and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(m) Cost-Share.--In addition to the coverage described in 
subsection (l)(4), the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of 
the Farm Service Agency, shall provide a $500 cost-share program for 
limited resource, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers for the 
first year of coverage of those farmers under this section.''.

SEC. 204. EXPANDED LOANS FOR FARM EQUIPMENT.

    (a) Cooperative Loans for Cooperatives of Farmers.--Section 316(a) 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1946(a)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Loans to cooperatives.--Notwithstanding subtitle A or 
        this subtitle, the liability for a farm ownership loan or a 
        farm operating loan under those subtitles to a cooperative of 
        family farm farmers shall not be required to attach to the 
        individual members of the cooperative, as determined by the 
        Secretary.''.
    (b) Farm Storage Facility Loans.--Section 5(a) of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation Charter Act (16 U.S.C. 714c(a)) is amended by 
inserting before the period at the end the following: ``, including 
farm storage facility loans to farmers for agriculturally related, 
nonfarm enterprises that support agricultural operations (as determined 
by the Secretary)''.

                   TITLE III--A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT

SEC. 301. SOIL ASSESSMENT.

    Subtitle J of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 
1994 (as amended by section 101) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 287. SOIL ASSESSMENT.

    ``(a) Soil Consultation.--
            ``(1) Soil testing protocol.--The Secretary, acting through 
        the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and 
        Environment and the Under Secretary of Agriculture for 
        Research, Education, and Economics, shall establish a 
        coordinated soil testing protocol to simplify the process used 
        by agricultural producers and small-scale producers of food to 
        evaluate soil health, including testing for--
                    ``(A) the optimal level of constituents in and 
                characteristics of the soil, such as organic matter, 
                nutrients, and the potential presence of soil 
                contamination from heavy metals such as lead or other 
                contaminants; and
                    ``(B) biological and physical characteristics 
                indicative of proper soil functioning.
            ``(2) Research.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, acting through 
                the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
                and the Director of the National Institute of Food and 
                Agriculture, shall coordinate and conduct research to 
                inform the soil testing protocol and soil remediation 
                practices with respect to soil contaminated with high 
                levels of heavy metals or other contaminants--
                            ``(i) to remediate, or otherwise manage 
                        appropriately, the soil; and
                            ``(ii) to assess and manage for proper soil 
                        functioning the soil for sustained biological 
                        and physical health.
                    ``(B) Requirements.--The Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) determine metrics used to measure 
                        soil health, quality, and safety;
                            ``(ii) in coordination with the heads of 
                        other Federal agencies, as appropriate, develop 
                        agricultural best practices with respect to 
                        soil contaminated with undesirable levels of 
                        heavy metals or other contaminants--
                                    ``(I) to remediate, or otherwise 
                                manage appropriately, the soil before 
                                agricultural production begins on the 
                                land; and
                                    ``(II) to maintain the health of 
                                the soil for future use; and
                            ``(iii) evaluate soil quality for food 
                        production.
            ``(3) Consultation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity described in 
                subparagraph (B) may seek technical assistance from the 
                Secretary about options to evaluate soil health, 
                safety, and quality of urban soils and contaminated or 
                degraded land to ensure the soil used by agricultural 
                producers is suitable for producing agricultural 
                products for human consumption.
                    ``(B) Eligible entities.--An eligible entity may 
                include--
                            ``(i) an agricultural producer;
                            ``(ii) a nonprofit organization;
                            ``(iii) a school or institution of higher 
                        education;
                            ``(iv) a community gardener;
                            ``(v) a State, local, or tribal government; 
                        and
                            ``(vi) another entity as determined by the 
                        Secretary.
            ``(4) Referral.--The Secretary shall refer any eligible 
        entity receiving consultation under paragraph (3) that the 
        Secretary determines has a high level of contamination to the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for 
        remediation under section 104(k) of the Comprehensive 
        Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 
        (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)).
            ``(5) Evaluation.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
        the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
        Senate a report that evaluates the overall effectiveness of 
        this subsection.
    ``(b) Soil Testing and Remediation Practices.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a national 
        soil testing and remediation program to provide technical and 
        financial assistance to agricultural producers for--
                    ``(A) implementing the soil testing protocol under 
                subsection (a)(1) for determining the suitability of 
                the soil of the agricultural producer for--
                            ``(i) producing agricultural products for 
                        human consumption; and
                            ``(ii) continued agricultural production; 
                        and
                    ``(B) adopting practices to mitigate any soil 
                contamination or degradation found as a result of the 
                soil testing.
            ``(2) Technical assistance and producer remediation.--The 
        Secretary shall provide information, resources, and other 
        technical assistance to agricultural producers that shall 
        include--
                    ``(A) an initial assessment of soil test results;
                    ``(B) a determination of soil quality, soil health, 
                and level of contamination of soil--
                            ``(i) to limit contaminants from entering 
                        agricultural products for human consumption; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) to regenerate and sustain the soil;
                    ``(C) the provision of resources and best practices 
                to agricultural producers regarding methods to keep 
                soils healthy;
                    ``(D) education, outreach, and technical assistance 
                regarding the uses of soil and methods of addressing 
                soil contamination and soil health degradation; and
                    ``(E) recommendations on methods to conduct 
                remediation or soil building efforts to improve soils 
                and ensure that the agriculture producers--
                            ``(i) are not growing products in soils 
                        with high levels of heavy metals or other 
                        contaminants;
                            ``(ii) have appropriate information 
                        regarding methods and programs to assist with 
                        soil remediation; and
                            ``(iii) have access to experts that can 
                        provide assistance to oversee and monitor soil 
                        under remediation or regeneration to ensure 
                        soils are suitable for agriculture production 
                        in the future.
            ``(3) Soil testing and remediation practices.--The 
        Secretary shall expand covered practices under the 
        environmental quality incentives program established under 
        chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act 
        of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) to include--
                    ``(A) soil tests for--
                            ``(i) heavy metals or other contaminants; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) biological and physical soil health; 
                        and
                    ``(B) producer soil remediation practices as 
                determined by the Secretary.
            ``(4) Reporting.--Not later than March 1 of each year, the 
        Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes 
        the requests by, disbursements to, and expenditures for each 
        State under this subsection during the current and previous 
        fiscal year, including the number of agricultural producers 
        served by the program under this subsection in the previous 
        fiscal year.''.

SEC. 302. INNOVATIVE URBAN CONSERVATION.

    Section 1240H(a)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839aa-8(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
        subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
                    ``(E) partner with urban farmers to develop 
                innovative conservation practices in urban areas to 
                increase--
                            ``(i) green space;
                            ``(ii) pollinator habitat;
                            ``(iii) stormwater management;
                            ``(iv) carbon sequestration; and
                            ``(v) access to agricultural production 
                        sites through land tenure agreements and other 
                        contracts;''.

SEC. 303. PILOT PROJECTS TO INCREASE COMMUNITY COMPOST.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out pilot projects under 
which local or municipal governments, in not fewer than 10 States, 
shall enter into cooperative agreements with the Secretary to develop 
and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost and 
food waste reduction plans.
    (b) Eligible Entities and Activities.--Under a cooperative 
agreement entered into under this section, the Secretary shall provide 
assistance to a municipalities, counties, local governments, or city 
planners, as appropriate, to carry out activities that will--
            (1) increase access to compost for agricultural producers;
            (2) reduce reliance on, and limit use of, excess 
        fertilizer;
            (3) improve soil quality;
            (4) encourage waste management and permaculture business 
        development;
            (5) increase rainwater absorption;
            (6) reduce municipal food waste; and
            (7) divert waste from landfills.
    (c) Evaluation and Ranking of Applications.--
            (1) Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish evaluation and 
        ranking criteria to maximize the benefit of Federal investment 
        in pilot projects under this section.
            (2) Considerations.--In establishing the selection criteria 
        for the pilot projects, the Secretary shall prioritize 
        applications that--
                    (A) anticipate or demonstrate economic benefits;
                    (B) incorporate plans to make compost easily 
                accessible to all agricultural producers, including 
                community gardeners;
                    (C) integrate other food waste strategies, 
                including food recovery efforts;
                    (D) collaborate with multiple partners; and
                    (E) fulfill other priorities as determined by the 
                Secretary.
            (3) Evaluation.--To be eligible for a pilot project under 
        this section, an eligible entity shall agree to participate in 
        an evaluation, as determined by the Secretary, of the pilot 
        project.
    (d) Matching Requirement.--The recipient of assistance for a pilot 
project under this section shall provide funds, in-kind contributions, 
or a combination of both from sources other than funds provided through 
the grant in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the amount 
of the grant.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that contains an 
evaluation of the pilot projects authorized under this section.
    (f) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2018.

SEC. 304. HEALTHY FOOD HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
``eligible entity'' means--
            (1) a nonprofit organization;
            (2) an agriculture cooperative;
            (3) a producer network or association;
            (4) a community health organization;
            (5) a public benefit corporation;
            (6) an economic development corporation;
            (7) a community-supported agriculture program;
            (8) an institution of higher education;
            (9) a State, local, or tribal agency; and
            (10) any other entity designated by the Secretary.
    (b) Healthy Food Healthy Environment Pilot Projects.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall make competitive 
        grants to eligible entities to conduct pilot projects that 
        strengthen marketplace links between healthy food consumption, 
        good environmental practices, and direct public health 
        outcomes.
            (2) Criteria.--In selecting pilot projects to receive 
        grants under this section, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) support pilot projects that--
                            (i) develop innovative marketing and 
                        incentive approaches to improve purchases of 
                        healthy foods;
                            (ii) have demonstrated community and 
                        partnership support from local planning 
                        entities;
                            (iii) use strategies that improve use of 
                        agricultural producer conservation practices;
                            (iv) provide to communities evidence-based 
                        nutrition and environmental education;
                            (v) agree to participate in the evaluation 
                        described in subsection (c); and
                            (vi) meet additional criteria established 
                        by the Secretary; and
                    (B) give priority to pilot projects that--
                            (i) are located in--
                                    (I) underserved communities; or
                                    (II) identified food deserts;
                            (ii) equally target good conservation 
                        practices and healthy food consumption;
                            (iii) demonstrate strong urban, suburban, 
                        and rural linkages;
                            (iv) provide locally or regionally produced 
                        fruits and vegetables; and
                            (v) address other criteria as established 
                        by the Secretary.
            (3) Location requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
        at least 2 pilot projects are located in each of the following:
                    (A) Urban communities.
                    (B) Rural communities.
                    (C) Peri-urban communities.
            (4) Limitation.--The maximum amount of grant funds received 
        by an eligible entity under this section shall be $150,000.
            (5) Duration.--The maximum duration of a grant received by 
        an eligible entity under this section shall be 3 years.
    (c) Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation 
        of the pilot projects funded under this section that--
                    (A) measures the environmental impacts of good 
                conservation practices;
                    (B) measures increases in the consumption of 
                healthy foods attributable to the projects;
                    (C) evaluates economic benefit in participating 
                communities;
                    (D) provides for an overall assessment of public 
                health outcomes due to improved healthy food 
                consumption in selected communities; and
                    (E) assesses such other metrics as may be 
                determined by the Secretary.
            (2) Costs.--The Secretary may use not more than 10 percent 
        of the funds made available to carry out this section to pay 
        costs associated with conducting the evaluation under this 
        subsection.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2017 through 2021.

             TITLE IV--RESEARCH, INNOVATION, AND TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 401. URBAN FOOD PRODUCTION AND MARKET DATA INITIATIVES.

    Section 10016(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
2204h(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) include information pertaining to production of food 
        within urban and peri-urban areas, collecting data, and 
        measuring impacts of the market for all types of production 
        methods.''.

SEC. 402. DATA COLLECTION ON URBAN AGRICULTURE.

    Section 2 of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (7 U.S.C. 2204g) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Data Collection on Urban Agriculture.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct as a follow-
        on study to the census of agriculture required to be conducted 
        in 2017 a census of urban agriculture, including information 
        about--
                    ``(A) farms located in urban areas, peri-urban 
                areas, and town centers;
                    ``(B) rooftop farms, outdoor vertical production, 
                and green walls;
                    ``(C) indoor farms, greenhouses, and high-tech 
                vertical technology farms;
                    ``(D) hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic farm 
                facilities; and
                    ``(E) other activities as determined by the 
                Secretary.
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $8,000,000 for 
        fiscal years 2017 and 2018.''.

SEC. 403. URBAN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION 
              INITIATIVE.

    Subtitle H of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 is amended by inserting after section 1672D (7 U.S.C. 5925f) the 
following:

``SEC. 1672E. URBAN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION 
              INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Competitive Research and Extension Grants Authorized.--In 
consultation with the Urban Agriculture Advisory Board, the Secretary 
may make competitive grants to support research, education, and 
extension activities for the purposes of enhancing agricultural 
production in urban areas by--
            ``(1) facilitating the development of urban agriculture 
        production, transportation, aggregation, distribution, and 
        markets;
            ``(2) assessing and developing strategies to remediate 
        contaminated sites;
            ``(3) determining and developing the best production 
        management and integrated pest management practices;
            ``(4) identifying and promoting the horticultural, social, 
        and economic factors that contribute to successful urban 
        agriculture production;
            ``(5) analyzing the means by which new urban agricultural 
        sites are determined, including an evaluation of soil quality 
        and local community needs;
            ``(6) exploring new and innovative technologies that 
        minimize energy and water inputs for increased food production 
        in urban centers;
            ``(7) studying and developing new and innovative 
        agricultural products to connect to urban markets;
            ``(8) examining how crop exposure to urban elements impacts 
        environmental quality and food safety;
            ``(9) conducting research relating to indoor vertical farm 
        research and controlled environment agriculture production, 
        including--
                    ``(A) efficiencies in energy, lighting systems, and 
                water usage of indoor production systems;
                    ``(B) genetic resources for increasing the 
                resistance of plants to urban and environmental 
                stresses;
                    ``(C) innovative production systems, including 
                hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponics systems; and
                    ``(D) innovative indoor growing methods of 
                traditional and nontraditional agricultural products; 
                and
            ``(10) conducting other activities that are relevant to 
        enhancing urban agricultural production, as determined by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(b) Grant Types and Process.--Paragraphs (4) and (7) of 
subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the making of 
grants under this section.
    ``(c) Priority.--The Secretary may give priority to grant proposals 
that involve--
            ``(1) the cooperation of multiple entities; or
            ``(2) States or regions with a high concentration of urban 
        farms, rooftop farms, and indoor production facilities.
    ``(d) Funding.--
            ``(1) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity 
        Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this 
        section $10,000,000 for each fiscal year, to remain available 
        until expended.
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to 
        amounts made available under paragraph (1), there is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021.''.
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