[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7765 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7765

To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary 
of Agriculture to establish Supply Chain Regional Resource Centers, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 13, 2022

 Ms. Spanberger (for herself and Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary 
of Agriculture to establish Supply Chain Regional Resource Centers, 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 ``American Food Supply Chain 
Resiliency Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. SUPPLY CHAIN REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS.

    The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

               ``Subtitle H--Food Supply Chain Resiliency

``SEC. 298. SUPPLY CHAIN REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator 
of the Agricultural Marketing Service, shall enter into cooperative 
agreements with eligible entities to establish not fewer than 6 Supply 
Chain Regional Resource Centers to support small-sized and medium-sized 
producers of agricultural products and small-sized and medium-sized 
agricultural businesses through activities, which may include--
            ``(1) offering coordination, technical assistance, and 
        capacity building support to small-sized and medium-sized 
        producers of agricultural products and agricultural businesses;
            ``(2) supporting supply chain and value chain 
        coordination--
                    ``(A) in the region in which such producers or 
                businesses are located; and
                    ``(B) with the Department of Agriculture, other 
                Federal, State, and Tribal agencies with relevant 
                resources, regional commissions, and other Supply Chain 
                Regional Resource Centers;
            ``(3) providing technical assistance to such producers and 
        businesses;
            ``(4) providing grants or other financial assistance to 
        such producers and businesses looking to expand production or a 
        business or start production or a business in such region; and
            ``(5) carrying out such other activities as may be 
        specified by the Secretary.
    ``(b) Focus on Tribal Supply Chain Issues.--At least one Supply 
Chain Regional Resource Center established pursuant to subsection (a) 
shall provide coordination, assistance, and capacity building support 
to address supply chain issues faced by Indian tribes and Tribal 
organizations (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity (including an entity 
        representing a partnership) seeking to enter into a cooperative 
        agreement under this section shall submit to the Secretary an 
        application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require, including how the 
        Supply Chain Regional Resource Centers established by such 
        entity will address food and agricultural supply chain issues 
        faced by underserved communities.
            ``(2) Regional diversity.--In selecting eligible entities 
        to enter into a cooperative agreement under this section, the 
        Secretary shall ensure the regional diversity of such entities.
    ``(d) Term.--The term of a cooperative agreement entered into under 
this section shall be not less than 4 years.
    ``(e) Coordination.--A Supply Chain Regional Resource Center shall, 
as a condition on entering into a cooperative agreement under this 
section, agree to coordinate with other Supply Chain Regional Resource 
Centers, when appropriate.
    ``(f) Report to Congress.--Beginning not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of the American Food Supply Chain Resiliency 
Act of 2022, and every 2 years thereafter, 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 on--
            ``(1) with respect to the activities carried out by the 
        Secretary under this section--
                    ``(A) a description of such activities; and
                    ``(B) the impact of such activities on supply chain 
                issues faced by small-sized and medium-sized producers 
                of agricultural products; and
            ``(2) with respect to the activities carried out by the 
        Supply Chain Regional Resource Centers under this section--
                    ``(A) a description of such activities;
                    ``(B) the impact of such activities on supply chain 
                issues faced by small-sized and medium-sized producers 
                of agricultural products and agricultural businesses; 
                and
                    ``(C) any grants awarded by Supply Chain Regional 
                Resource Centers to such producers and businesses.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a State government (or a political 
                subdivision thereof), regional authority, or an Indian 
                Tribe or Tribal organization;
                    ``(B) a college or university (as defined in 
                section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
                Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
                3103)) (including a land-grant college or university); 
                or
                    ``(C) a nonprofit organization, including a 
                producer network or association, a food council, an 
                economic development corporation, or another 
                organization.
            ``(2) State.--The term `State' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
        Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2023 through 2026.''.

SEC. 3. AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CENTERS PROGRAM.

    Section 6402(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 (7 U.S.C. 1632b(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) research, technical assistance, support services, 
        outreach, and other services to strengthen, maintain, and 
        secure supply chains related to agricultural inputs and 
        agricultural products produced in the United States.''.
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