[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3005 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3005

To encourage and promote urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural 
             production practices, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 6, 2018

Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Casey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. 
    Booker, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                  Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To encourage and promote urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural 
             production practices, 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 ``Urban Agriculture Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) agricultural producers are developing innovative 
        agricultural production practices and using traditional 
        production practices in innovative locations, such as urban 
        areas;
            (2) those urban agricultural practices continue--
                    (A) to create jobs and develop the workforce;
                    (B) to increase domestic 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 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 further realize the benefits described in paragraph 
        (2), the Secretary of Agriculture should comprehensively 
        incorporate urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural 
        practices into the vision of the Department of Agriculture to 
        provide economic opportunity through promoting innovative 
        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, indoor, 
        and other emerging agricultural practices;
            (2) to articulate a broadly inclusive description of urban, 
        indoor, and other emerging agricultural practices 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, indoor vertical 
        farms, and other emerging agricultural practices.

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6911 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:

``SEC. 221. OFFICE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION.

    ``(a) Office.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish in the 
        Department an Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative 
        Production.
            ``(2) Director.--The Secretary shall appoint a senior 
        official to serve as the Director of the Office of Urban 
        Agriculture and Innovative Production (referred to in this 
        section as the `Director').
            ``(3) Mission.--The mission of the Office of Urban 
        Agriculture and Innovative Production shall be to encourage and 
        promote urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural 
        practices, including--
                    ``(A) community gardens and farms located in urban 
                areas, suburbs, and urban clusters;
                    ``(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 innovations in agricultural production, 
                as determined by the Secretary.
            ``(4) Responsibilities.--The Director shall be responsible 
        for engaging in activities to carry out the mission described 
        in paragraph (3), including by--
                    ``(A) managing and facilitating programs, including 
                for community gardens, urban farms, rooftop 
                agriculture, and indoor vertical production;
                    ``(B) coordinating with the agencies and officials 
                of the Department;
                    ``(C) advising the Secretary on issues relating to 
                the mission of the Office of Urban Agriculture and 
                Innovative Production;
                    ``(D) ensuring that the programs of the Department 
                are updated to address urban, indoor, and other 
                emerging agricultural production practices, in 
                coordination with the officials in the Department 
                responsible for those programs;
                    ``(E) engaging in external relations with 
                stakeholders and coordinating external partnerships to 
                share best practices, provide mentorship, and offer 
                technical assistance;
                    ``(F) facilitating interagency program coordination 
                and developing interagency tools for the promotion of 
                existing programs and resources;
                    ``(G) creating resources that identify common State 
                and municipal best practices for navigating local 
                policies;
                    ``(H) reviewing and improving farm enterprise 
                development programs that provide information about 
                financial literacy, business planning, and food safety 
                record keeping;
                    ``(I) coordinating networks of community gardens 
                and facilitating connections to local food banks, in 
                partnership with the Food and Nutrition Service; and
                    ``(J) collaborating with other Federal agencies 
                that use agricultural practices on-site for food 
                production or infrastructure.
    ``(b) Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production 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 and Innovative Production Advisory Committee 
        (referred to in this subsection as the `Committee') to advise 
        the Secretary on--
                    ``(A) the development of policies relating to 
                urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural 
                production practices; and
                    ``(B) any other aspects of the implementation of 
                this section.
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed 
                of 15 members, of whom--
                            ``(i) 5 shall be individuals who are 
                        agricultural producers, of whom--
                                    ``(I) not fewer than 2 individuals 
                                shall be agricultural producers located 
                                in an urban area or urban cluster; and
                                    ``(II) not fewer than 2 individuals 
                                shall be farmers that use innovative 
                                technology, including indoor farming 
                                and rooftop agriculture;
                            ``(ii) 2 shall be representatives from an 
                        institution of higher education or extension 
                        program;
                            ``(iii) 1 shall be an individual who 
                        represents a nonprofit organization, which may 
                        include a public health, environmental, or 
                        community organization;
                            ``(iv) 1 shall be an individual who 
                        represents business and economic development, 
                        which may include a business development 
                        entity, a chamber of commerce, a city 
                        government, or a planning organization;
                            ``(v) 1 shall be an individual with supply 
                        chain experience, which may include a food 
                        aggregator, wholesale food distributor, food 
                        hub, or an individual who has direct-to-
                        consumer market experience;
                            ``(vi) 1 shall be an individual from a 
                        financing entity; and
                            ``(vii) 4 shall be individuals with related 
                        experience or expertise in urban, indoor, and 
                        other emerging agriculture production 
                        practices, as determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(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) 5 of the members, as determined by 
                        the Secretary, shall be appointed for a term of 
                        3 years;
                            ``(ii) 5 of the members, as determined by 
                        the Secretary, shall be appointed for a term of 
                        2 years; and
                            ``(iii) 5 of the members, as determined by 
                        the Secretary, 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 as soon as 
                        practicable in the same manner as the original 
                        appointment.
                    ``(D) Consecutive terms.--An initial appointee of 
                the committee may serve an additional consecutive term 
                if the member is reappointed by the Secretary.
            ``(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--
                                    ``(I) to further the mission of the 
                                Office of Urban Agriculture and 
                                Innovative Production described in 
                                subsection (a)(3); and
                                    ``(II) regarding the establishment 
                                of urban agriculture policy priorities 
                                and goals within the Department;
                            ``(ii) advise the Director on policies and 
                        initiatives administered by the Office of Urban 
                        Agriculture and Innovative Production;
                            ``(iii) evaluate and review ongoing 
                        research and extension activities relating to 
                        urban, indoor, and other innovative 
                        agricultural practices;
                            ``(iv) identify new and existing barriers 
                        to successful urban, indoor, and other emerging 
                        agricultural production practices; and
                            ``(v) provide additional assistance and 
                        advice to the Director as appropriate.
                    ``(B) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this section, and each year 
                thereafter, the Committee shall submit to the 
                Secretary, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
                Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, 
                Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report 
                describing the recommendations developed under 
                subparagraph (A)(i).
            ``(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 1 or more 2-year periods.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 
and each fiscal year thereafter.''.

SEC. 4. URBAN AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Definition of Director.--In this section, the term ``Director'' 
means the Director of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative 
Production.
    (b) Farm Numbers.--The Secretary shall provide for the assignment 
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 this 
Act)) for rooftop farms, indoor farms, and other urban farms, as 
determined by the Secretary.
    (c) 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 unit of local government;
                    (D) a Tribal government;
                    (E) any school that serves any of grades 
                kindergarten through grade 12; and
                    (F) an institution of higher education.
            (2) Grants.--The Director may award competitive grants to 
        eligible entities to support the development of urban 
        agriculture and innovative production.
            (3) Funding priority.--In awarding grants under this 
        subsection, priority shall be given to an eligible entity that 
        uses and provides an evaluation of a grant received under this 
        subsection--
                    (A) to plan and construct gardens or nonprofit 
                farms;
                    (B) to operate community gardens or nonprofit farms 
                that--
                            (i) produce food for donation;
                            (ii) have a demonstrated environmental 
                        benefit and educational component; and
                            (iii) are part of community efforts to 
                        address local food security needs;
                    (C) to educate a community on--
                            (i) issues relating to food systems, 
                        including connections between rural farmers and 
                        urban communities;
                            (ii) nutrition;
                            (iii) environmental impacts, including 
                        pollinator health, soil fertility, composing, 
                        heat islands, and storm water runoff; and
                            (iv) agricultural production, including 
                        pest and disease management; and
                    (D) to provide multiple small dollar equity 
                investments to help offset start-up costs relating to 
                new production, land access, and equipment for new and 
                beginning farmers who--
                            (i) develop a 3-year business plan;
                            (ii) live in the community in which they 
                        plan to farm; and
                            (iii) provide a match to the start-up 
                        investment in the form of cash or an in-kind 
                        contribution.
    (d) Pilot Projects.--
            (1) Urban and suburban county committees.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                establish a pilot program for not fewer than 5 years 
                that establishes 10 county committees in accordance 
                with section 8(b)(5)(B)(ii)(II) of the Soil 
                Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 
                590h(b)(5)(B)) to operate in counties located in urban 
                or suburban areas with a high concentration of urban or 
                suburban farms.
                    (B) Effect.--Nothing in this paragraph requires or 
                precludes the establishment of a Farm Service Agency 
                office in a county in which a county committee is 
                established under subparagraph (A).
                    (C) Report.--For fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal 
                year thereafter through fiscal year 2023, 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 a summary of--
                            (i) the status of the pilot program under 
                        subparagraph (A);
                            (ii) meetings and other activities of the 
                        committees established under that subparagraph; 
                        and
                            (iii) the types and volume of assistance 
                        and services provided to farmers in counties in 
                        which county committees are established under 
                        that subparagraph.
            (2) Increasing community compost and reducing food waste.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
                Director (referred to in this paragraph as the 
                ``Secretary''), shall carry out pilot projects under 
                which the Secretary shall offer to enter into 
                cooperative agreements with local or municipal 
                governments in not fewer than 10 States to develop and 
                test strategies for planning and implementing municipal 
                compost plans and food waste reduction plans.
                    (B) Eligible entities and purposes of pilot 
                projects.--Under a cooperative agreement entered into 
                under this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide 
                assistance to municipalities, counties, local 
                governments, or city planners, as appropriate, to carry 
                out planning and implementing activities that will--
                            (i) generate compost;
                            (ii) increase access to compost for 
                        agricultural producers;
                            (iii) reduce reliance on, and limit the use 
                        of, fertilizer;
                            (iv) improve soil quality;
                            (v) encourage waste management and 
                        permaculture business development;
                            (vi) increase rainwater absorption;
                            (vii) reduce municipal food waste; and
                            (viii) divert food waste from landfills.
                    (C) Evaluation and ranking of applications.--
                            (i) Criteria.--Not later than 180 days 
                        after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
                        Secretary shall establish criteria for the 
                        selection of pilot projects under this 
                        paragraph.
                            (ii) Priority.--In selecting a pilot 
                        project under this paragraph, the Secretary 
                        shall give priority to an application for a 
                        pilot project that--
                                    (I) anticipates or demonstrates 
                                economic benefits;
                                    (II) incorporates plans to make 
                                compost easily accessible to 
                                agricultural producers, including 
                                community gardeners;
                                    (III) integrates other food waste 
                                strategies, including food recovery 
                                efforts; and
                                    (IV) provides for collaboration 
                                with multiple partners.
                    (D) Matching requirement.--The recipient of 
                assistance for a pilot project under this paragraph 
                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) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall conduct an 
                evaluation of the pilot projects funded under this 
                paragraph to assess different solutions for increasing 
                access to compost and reducing municipal food waste, 
                including an evaluation of--
                            (i) the amount of Federal funds used for 
                        each project; and
                            (ii) a measurement of the outcomes of each 
                        project.
            (3) Healthy food healthy environment.--
                    (A) Definition of eligible entity.--In this 
                paragraph, the term ``eligible entity'' means--
                            (i) a nonprofit organization;
                            (ii) an agriculture cooperative or 
                        business;
                            (iii) a producer network or association;
                            (iv) a community health organization;
                            (v) a public benefit corporation;
                            (vi) an economic development corporation;
                            (vii) a community supported agriculture 
                        program;
                            (viii) an institution of higher education; 
                        and
                            (ix) a State, local, or Tribal agency.
                    (B) Healthy food healthy environment pilot 
                projects.--
                            (i) In general.--The Secretary, in 
                        coordination with the Director of the National 
                        Institute of Food and Agriculture and the 
                        Director, shall make competitive grants to 
                        eligible entities to conduct pilot projects 
                        that strengthen marketplace links between--
                                    (I) healthy food consumption and 
                                good environmental practices; and
                                    (II) direct public health outcomes.
                            (ii) Criteria.--In selecting pilot projects 
                        to receive grants under this paragraph, the 
                        Secretary shall--
                                    (I) support pilot projects that--
                                            (aa) develop innovative 
                                        marketing and incentive 
                                        approaches to improve purchases 
                                        of healthy foods;
                                            (bb) have demonstrated 
                                        community and partnership 
                                        support from local planning 
                                        entities;
                                            (cc) use strategies that 
                                        improve the use of agricultural 
                                        producer conservation practices 
                                        and improve environmental 
                                        efficiencies; and
                                            (dd) provide to communities 
                                        evidence-based nutrition and 
                                        environmental education; and
                                    (II) give priority to pilot 
                                projects that--
                                            (aa) are located in--

                                                    (AA) underserved 
                                                communities; or

                                                    (BB) identified 
                                                food deserts;

                                            (bb) equally target good 
                                        conservation practices and 
                                        healthy food consumption;
                                            (cc) demonstrate strong 
                                        urban, suburban, and rural 
                                        linkages; and
                                            (dd) provide locally or 
                                        regionally produced fruits and 
                                        vegetables.
                            (iii) Location requirements.--The Secretary 
                        shall ensure that not fewer than 2 pilot 
                        projects are located in each of the following:
                                    (I) Urban communities.
                                    (II) Rural communities.
                                    (III) Peri-urban communities.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 
and each fiscal year thereafter.

SEC. 5. RISK MANAGEMENT.

    (a) Federal Crop Insurance.--Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop 
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(c)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (24) as paragraph (26); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (23) the following:
            ``(24) Greenhouse policy.--
                    ``(A) In general.--
                            ``(i) Research and development.--The 
                        Corporation shall carry out research and 
                        development, or offer to enter into 1 or more 
                        contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to 
                        carry out research and development, regarding a 
                        policy to insure, in a controlled environment 
                        such as a greenhouse--
                                    ``(I) the production of 
                                floriculture, nursery, and bedding 
                                plants;
                                    ``(II) the establishment of 
                                cuttings or tissue culture in a growing 
                                medium; or
                                    ``(III) other similar production, 
                                as determined by the Secretary.
                            ``(ii) Availability of policy or plan of 
                        insurance.--Notwithstanding the last sentence 
                        of section 508(a)(1), and section 508(a)(2), 
                        the Corporation shall make a policy described 
                        in clause (i) available if the requirements of 
                        section 508(h) are met.
                    ``(B) Research and development described.--Research 
                and development described in subparagraph (A)(i) shall 
                evaluate the effectiveness of policies for the 
                production of plants in a controlled environment, 
                including policies that--
                            ``(i) are based on the risk of--
                                    ``(I) plant diseases introduced 
                                from the environment;
                                    ``(II) contaminated cuttings, 
                                seedlings, or tissue culture; or
                                    ``(III) Federal or State quarantine 
                                or destruction orders associated with 
                                the contaminated items described in 
                                subclause (II);
                            ``(ii) consider other causes of loss 
                        applicable to a controlled environment, such as 
                        a loss of electricity due to weather;
                            ``(iii) consider appropriate best practices 
                        to minimize the risk of loss;
                            ``(iv) consider whether to provide coverage 
                        for various types of plants under 1 policy or 
                        to provide coverage for 1 species or type of 
                        plant per policy;
                            ``(v) have streamlined reporting and 
                        paperwork requirements that take into account 
                        short propagation schedules, variable crop 
                        years, and the variety of plants that may be 
                        produced in a single facility; and
                            ``(vi) provide protection for revenue 
                        losses.
                    ``(C) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
                of enactment of the Urban Agriculture Act of 2018, the 
                Corporation 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--
                            ``(i) describes the results of the research 
                        and development conducted under subparagraphs 
                        (A)(i) and (B); and
                            ``(ii) provides any recommendations with 
                        respect to those results.
            ``(25) Local foods.--
                    ``(A) In general.--
                            ``(i) Research and development.--The 
                        Corporation shall carry out research and 
                        development, or offer to enter into 1 or more 
                        contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to 
                        carry out research and development, regarding a 
                        policy to insure production--
                                    ``(I) of floriculture, fruits, 
                                vegetables, poultry, livestock, or the 
                                products of floriculture, fruits, 
                                vegetables, poultry, or livestock; and
                                    ``(II) that is targeted toward 
                                local consumers and markets.
                            ``(ii) Availability of policy or plan of 
                        insurance.--Notwithstanding the last sentence 
                        of section 508(a)(1) and section 508(a)(2), the 
                        Corporation shall make a policy described in 
                        clause (i) available if the requirements of 
                        section 508(h) are met.
                    ``(B) Research and development described.--Research 
                and development described in subparagraph (A)(i) shall 
                evaluate the effectiveness of policies for production 
                targeted toward local consumers and markets, including 
                policies that--
                            ``(i) consider small-scale production in 
                        various areas, including urban, suburban, and 
                        rural areas;
                            ``(ii) consider a variety of marketing 
                        strategies, including--
                                    ``(I) direct-to-consumer marketing;
                                    ``(II) farmers markets;
                                    ``(III) farm-to-institution 
                                marketing; and
                                    ``(IV) marketing through community 
                                supported agriculture;
                            ``(iii) allow for production in soil and in 
                        alternative systems, such as vertical systems, 
                        greenhouses, rooftops, or hydroponic systems;
                            ``(iv) consider the price premium when 
                        accounting for production or revenue losses;
                            ``(v) consider whether to provide 
                        coverage--
                                    ``(I) for various types of 
                                production under 1 policy; and
                                    ``(II) for 1 species or type of 
                                plant per policy; and
                            ``(vi) have streamlined reporting and 
                        paperwork requirements.
                    ``(C) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
                of enactment of the Urban Agriculture Act of 2018, the 
                Corporation 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--
                            ``(i) examines whether a version of 
                        existing policies such as the whole-farm 
                        revenue protection insurance plan may be 
                        tailored to provide improved coverage for 
                        producers of local foods;
                            ``(ii) describes the results of the 
                        research and development conducted under 
                        subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
                            ``(iii) includes any recommendations with 
                        respect to those results.''.
    (b) Noninsured Crop Assistance Program.--Section 196(l)(1)(B) of 
the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
7333(l)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting ``, contract price, or other 
premium price (such as a local, organic, or direct market price, as 
elected by the producer)'' after ``price''.

SEC. 6. SOIL AND CONSERVATION.

    (a) Innovative 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 farmers to develop innovative 
                conservation practices for urban, indoor, or other 
                emerging agricultural practices 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;''.
    (b) Soil Testing and Remediation Assistance.--Chapter 5 of subtitle 
D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by inserting 
after section 1240M (16 U.S.C. 3839bb) the following:

``SEC. 1240N. SOIL TESTING AND REMEDIATION ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) In General.--To improve the health and quality of the soil 
used for agricultural production, the Secretary shall work with 
producers, including small-scale producers of food, to mitigate the 
presence of contaminants in soil, including by carrying out subsections 
(b), (c), and (d).
    ``(b) Soil Testing Protocol.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall 
        establish a coordinated soil testing protocol to simplify the 
        process used by producers 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, volatile organic 
                compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or other 
                contaminants; and
                    ``(B) biological and physical characteristics 
                indicative of proper soil functioning.
            ``(2) Public availability.--The Secretary shall make the 
        soil testing protocol established under paragraph (1) available 
        to the public.
    ``(c) Soil Assessment and Remediation Technical Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide technical 
        assistance to a producer carrying out a soil assessment or soil 
        remediation practice that shall include--
                    ``(A) an overall review of the health of the soil 
                used by the producer for agricultural production;
                    ``(B) testing of the soil, if applicable, to 
                determine the suitability of the soil for agricultural 
                production;
                    ``(C) based on the results of the soil tested under 
                subparagraph (B), a consultation with the producer and 
                a determination of the quality, health, and level of 
                contamination of the soil adequate--
                            ``(i) to protect against a health risk to 
                        producers;
                            ``(ii) to limit contaminants from entering 
                        agricultural products for human consumption; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) to regenerate and sustain the soil; 
                        and
                    ``(D) recommendations on methods to conduct 
                remediation or soil building efforts to improve soils 
                and ensure that the producers--
                            ``(i) are not growing products in soils 
                        with high levels of heavy metals, volatile 
                        organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic 
                        hydrocarbons, or other contaminants;
                            ``(ii) have appropriate information 
                        regarding financial resources and conservation 
                        practices available to keep soil healthy, 
                        including practices, as defined in section 
                        1240A; and
                            ``(iii) have access to experts, including 
                        experts outside of the Natural Resources 
                        Conservation Service, that may provide 
                        assistance to producers to oversee and monitor 
                        soil under remediation or regeneration to 
                        ensure soils are suitable for agricultural 
                        production in the future.
            ``(2) Education and outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct 
        education and outreach to producers regarding the uses of soil 
        and methods of addressing soil contamination and soil health 
        degradation.
    ``(d) Referral.--On the request of an agricultural producer, where 
soil is found to pose an imminent hazard to human health, the Secretary 
may refer the agricultural producer to the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency for additional assistance for 
remediation under section 104(k) of the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 
9604(k)).''.
    (c) Covered Practices.--Sec 1240A(4)(A) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-1(4)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vii); and
            (3) by inserting after clause (iv) the following:
                            ``(v) soil tests for--
                                    ``(I) heavy metals, volatile 
                                organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic 
                                hydrocarbons, and other contaminants; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) biological and physical soil 
                                health;
                            ``(vi) scientifically based soil 
                        remediation practices to be carried out by the 
                        producer, as determined by the Secretary; 
                        and''.

SEC. 7. DATA COLLECTION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 360 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct as a follow-on study 
to the census of agriculture required to be conducted in calendar year 
2017 under section 2 of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (7 U.S.C. 
2204g) a census of urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural 
production, including information about--
            (1) community gardens and farms located in urban areas, 
        suburbs, and urban clusters;
            (2) rooftop farms, outdoor vertical production, and green 
        walls;
            (3) indoor farms, greenhouses, and high-tech vertical 
        technology farms;
            (4) hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic farm facilities; 
        and
            (5) other innovations in agricultural production, as 
        determined by the Secretary.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $8,000,000 for the period of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2021.

SEC. 8. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.

    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, INDOOR, AND OTHER EMERGING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION 
              RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Competitive Research and Extension Grants Authorized.--In 
consultation with the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production 
Advisory Committee established under section 221(b) of the Department 
of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, the Secretary may make 
competitive grants to support research, education, and extension 
activities for the purposes of enhancing urban, indoor, and other 
emerging agricultural production by--
            ``(1) facilitating the development of urban, indoor, and 
        other emerging agricultural production, harvesting, 
        transportation, aggregation, packaging, 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) assessing the impacts of shipping and transportation 
        on nutritional value;
            ``(5) identifying and promoting the horticultural, social, 
        and economic factors that contribute to successful urban, 
        indoor, and other emerging agricultural production;
            ``(6) analyzing the means by which new agricultural sites 
        are determined, including an evaluation of soil quality, the 
        condition of a building, or local community needs;
            ``(7) exploring new and innovative technologies that 
        minimize energy, lighting systems, water, and other inputs for 
        increased food production;
            ``(8) examining building material efficiencies and 
        structural upgrades for the purpose of optimizing growth of 
        agricultural products;
            ``(9) studying and developing new crop varieties and 
        innovative agricultural products to connect to new markets; or
            ``(10) examining the impacts of crop exposure to urban 
        elements on environmental quality and food safety.
    ``(b) Grant Types and Process.--Subparagraphs (A) through (E) of 
paragraph (4), paragraph (7), and paragraph (11)(B) of subsection (b) 
of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 
U.S.C. 3157) shall apply with respect to the making of grants under 
this section.
    ``(c) Priority.--The Secretary may give priority to grant proposals 
under this section that involve--
            ``(1) the cooperation of multiple entities; or
            ``(2) States or regions with a high concentration of or 
        significant interest in 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 $20,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 
        2023, 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 2019 through 2023.''.
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