[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 351 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 351

To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to lend 
Department of Defense farm equipment to eligible farmers, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 8, 2019

    Mr. Yoho (for himself, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Dunn) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to lend 
Department of Defense farm equipment to eligible farmers, 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 ``Equip Ag Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FARM EQUIPMENT SHARING PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Survey of DOD Equipment.--Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall conduct a survey 
of the equipment of the Department of Defense to determine which such 
equipment--
            (1) would be appropriate for use by farmers through an 
        equipment sharing program; and
            (2) could be used in an equipment sharing program without 
        jeopardizing military readiness.
    (b) Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish a 
        pilot program under which the Secretary shall lend equipment of 
        the Department identified pursuant to the survey carried out 
        under subsection (a) to eligible farmers.
            (2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to borrow equipment under 
        the pilot program, a farmer shall--
                    (A) be a new and beginning farmer, as determined by 
                the Secretary; and
                    (B) submit to the Secretary an application 
                containing such information and assurances as the 
                Secretary may require.
            (3) Location.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
        program at locations determined by the Secretary.
            (4) Duration.--The authority to carry out a pilot program 
        under this section shall terminate on the date that is three 
        years after the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
            (5) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the termination 
        of the pilot program under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
        submit to Congress a report on the pilot program that includes 
        the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to the 
        extension and expansion of the program.
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