[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6500 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






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.
                                 <all>