118 HR 3902 IH: Growing Opportunities for Innovative Farming Act U.S. House of Representatives 2023-06-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3902IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 7, 2023Mr. Espaillat introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on AgricultureA BILLTo amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to provide for a set-aside for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers for grants to support urban agriculture and innovative production, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Growing Opportunities for Innovative Farming Act.

2.

Set-aside for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

Section 222(e) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923(e)) is amended to read as follows: (e)

Funding

(1)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section and the amendments made by this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2028. (2)

Set-aside

Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall set aside not less than 10 percent to award grants under subsection (c) to eligible entities that serve socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (as defined in section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6923(a))), in amounts of not less than $10,000 per grantee per fiscal year. .

3.

Annual report on opportunities and outreach for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

Section 2501(k) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(k)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (3)

Annual reports

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Growing Opportunities for Innovative Farming Act, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry a report describing— (A)targeted farming opportunities, training, and outreach practices being carried out by the Secretary under this section; (B)a list of census tracts that the Secretary has provided technical assistance to under this section; (C)recommendations to Congress on how to enhance equity for socially disadvantaged, small farmers and ranchers; and (D)any other data the Secretary determines to be necessary to evaluate the benefits of the technical assistance provided, outreach efforts undertaken, and grants awarded under this section..