[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5023 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5023

  To expand opportunity for agricultural producers, increase consumer 
      choice in food markets, and enhance American international 
 competitiveness by establishing new programs for food innovation, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2023

Mr. McGovern (for himself, Ms. McCollum, and Ms. Adams) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To expand opportunity for agricultural producers, increase consumer 
      choice in food markets, and enhance American international 
 competitiveness by establishing new programs for food innovation, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Peas, Legumes, And 
Nuts Today Act'' or the ``PLANT Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of covered commodity.
Sec. 3. Marketing loans.
Sec. 4. Market access program.
Sec. 5. Operating loans.
Sec. 6. Guaranteed operating loans.
Sec. 7. Loans to private business enterprises.
Sec. 8. Rural business development grants.
Sec. 9. Rural cooperative development grants.
Sec. 10. Appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program.
Sec. 11. Rural innovation stronger economy grant program.
Sec. 12. Plant-based protein input research program.
Sec. 13. Pulse crop health initiative.
Sec. 14. Value-added producer grants.
Sec. 15. Emerging protein production research, education, and extension 
                            initiative.
Sec. 16. Plant-based food innovation initiatives.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF COVERED COMMODITY.

    Section 1111 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9011) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6)(A), by striking ``and peanuts'' and 
        inserting ``peanuts, and mushrooms.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (19)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``$2.40'' and 
                inserting ``$3.00'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (K), by striking ``$11.00'' and 
                inserting ``$13.75'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (L), by striking ``$19.97'' and 
                inserting ``$24.93'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (M), by striking ``$19.04'' and 
                inserting ``$23.80'';
                    (E) in subparagraph (N), by striking ``$21.54'' and 
                inserting ``$26.93''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(P) For mushrooms, $1.16 per pound.''.

SEC. 3. MARKETING LOANS.

    Section 1202(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9032(b)) 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``$2.00'' and inserting 
        ``$3.00'';
            (2) in paragraph (12), by striking ``$6.15'' and inserting 
        ``$7.65'';
            (3) in paragraph (13), by striking ``$13.00'' and inserting 
        ``$16.25'';
            (4) in paragraph (14), by striking ``$10.00'' and inserting 
        ``$12.50'';
            (5) in paragraph (15), by striking ``$14.00'' and inserting 
        ``$17.50''; and
            (6) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(21) In the case of mushrooms, $1.16 per pound.''.

SEC. 4. MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM.

    Section 203(b) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 
5623(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and plant protein 
        products (as defined in section 223 of the Department of 
        Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994)'' before ``) through 
        cost-share assistance''; and
            (2) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``, including entities 
        involved in the development or promotion of plant protein 
        products (as defined in section 223 of the Department of 
        Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994)'' after ``entities''.

SEC. 5. OPERATING LOANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 312(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1942(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (9)(B)(ii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding the following:
            ``(11) supporting projects that facilitate the development 
        of plant protein products and connect rural markets and 
        economies.''.
    (b) Plant Protein Product Defined.--Section 343(a) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 1991(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(14) Plant protein product.--The term `plant protein 
        product' has the meaning given the term in section 223 of the 
        Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994.''.

SEC. 6. GUARANTEED OPERATING LOANS.

    Section 312(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1942(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding the following:
            ``(10) supporting projects that facilitate the development 
        of plant protein products and connect rural markets and 
        economies.''.

SEC. 7. LOANS TO PRIVATE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

    Section 310B(a)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting at the end the following:
                    ``(E) facilitating economic opportunity for plant 
                protein products, as well as relevant supply chains and 
                processing capacity for plant protein products.''.

SEC. 8. RURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

    Section 310B(c)(3)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(c)(3)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in clause (v), by striking ``or'' and inserting 
        ``and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vi) projects that support the 
                        development of business enterprises related to 
                        plant protein products; or''.

SEC. 9. RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

    Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(14) Grants for development of certain plant protein 
        crops.--The Secretary may make grants under this section to 
        nonprofit institutions to support the development of pulse 
        crops, vegetables, legumes, and fungi, including fava beans, 
        mushrooms, oats, and the pulse crop industry, including by--
                    ``(A) developing and disseminating science-based 
                tools and information, technical and marketing 
                assistance, job training and development;
                    ``(B) developing new and innovative technologies to 
                improve and utilize pulse crops as an ingredient in 
                food products; and
                    ``(C) providing technical and nontechnical 
                assistance and education to food companies using pulse 
                crops, and value-added production processes.''.

SEC. 10. APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR RURAL AREAS PROGRAM.

    Section 310B(i)(2)(D) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(i)(2)(D)) is amended by inserting ``or 
plant protein products'' after ``commodities''.

SEC. 11. RURAL INNOVATION STRONGER ECONOMY GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 379I of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 2008w) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Grant for development of plant-based foods.--At least 
        1 grant awarded under paragraph (1) shall be for the purposes 
        of supporting the development of plant protein products.'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(1)(B)(vi), by inserting ``, including 
        the development of new plant protein products'' before the 
        semicolon; and
            (3) in subsection (j), by striking ``$10,000,000 for each 
        of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``$30,000,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028''.

SEC. 12. PLANT-BASED PROTEIN INPUT RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 1672(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(21) Plant-based protein input research program.--
        Research and extension grants may be made under this section 
        for the purpose of carrying out or enhancing research to 
        improve the functionality, flavor, and nutritional value of the 
        use of soybeans, wheat, mushrooms, oats, sorghum, almonds, and 
        other crops for the plant protein industry.''.

SEC. 13. PULSE CROP HEALTH INITIATIVE.

    Section 1672(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(e)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (E)(ii), by striking the period 
                and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) sharing technical and non-technical 
                assistance to plant protein producers.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (5), by inserting after ``$25,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023'' the following: 
        ``$40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029''.

SEC. 14. VALUE-ADDED PRODUCER GRANTS.

    Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
1627c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``section 343(a) 
                of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
                U.S.C. 1991(a))'' and inserting ``section 2501(a) of 
                the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
                1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a))'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``has the meaning 
                given the term in section 231(a) of the Agricultural 
                Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a(a))'' and 
                inserting ``means any farm in which the majority of the 
                business is owned by an operator and any individuals 
                related to the operator by blood, marriage, or 
                adoption, including relatives who do not live in the 
                household of the operator. The term includes any farm 
                organized as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or 
                family corporation. The term does not include any farm 
                organized as a non-family corporation or cooperative, 
                or any farm with a hired manager''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(14) Independent producer.--The term `independent 
        producer' means an operator--
                    ``(A) of a small or medium-sized farm or ranch that 
                is structured as a family farm; and
                    ``(B) who produces and owns more than 20 percent of 
                the agricultural commodity to which value will be added 
                as the subject of a project proposed under subsection 
                (d).'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(5)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by adding at the end the 
                following: ``In doing so, the Secretary shall not 
                exclude any producer that does not own and produce from 
                at least 50 percent of their own agricultural 
                commodity, or require any producer to have been in 
                production for a minimum number of years to be eligible 
                for participation.'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``(as 
                determined by the Secretary)''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (C)(i)(III), by inserting ``and 
                whose net income does not exceed $1,000,000 or 125 
                percent of the county median income, whichever is 
                greater'' before the semicolon;
            (3) in subsection (f)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (A);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (B) and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) operate small or medium-sized family 
                farms.''; and
            (4) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``$50,000,000'' and 
                        inserting ``$100,000,000''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``2019'' and inserting 
                        ``2024'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``$20,000,000'' and 
                        inserting ``$40,000,000''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``2019'' and inserting 
                        ``2024''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)(A)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``35 
                        percent'' and inserting ``45 percent''; and
                            (ii) in clause (ii)(III), by inserting ``, 
                        including for plant protein products'' before 
                        the period.

SEC. 15. EMERGING PROTEIN PRODUCTION RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION 
              INITIATIVE.

    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. 223. OFFICE OF PLANT-BASED FOODS AND INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION.

    ``(a) Office.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish in the 
        Department an Office of Plant-Based Foods and Innovative 
        Production.
            ``(2) Director.--The Secretary shall appoint a senior 
        official to serve as the Director of the Office of Plant-Based 
        Foods and Innovative Production (referred to in this section as 
        the `Director').
            ``(3) Mission.--The mission of the Office of Plant-Based 
        Foods and Innovative Production shall be to encourage and 
        promote plant-based protein and plant-based food options and 
        plant protein products, including the edible proteins made from 
        plants (such as vegetables, beans, and legumes), fungi, or 
        other nonanimal sources, through any of the following:
                    ``(A) The development, construction, or acquisition 
                of land, buildings, plants, equipment, access streets 
                and roads, parking areas, facility construction, 
                expansion, or production capacity expansions.
                    ``(B) Providing technical and nontechnical 
                assistance to plant-based food suppliers and processors 
                in product development.
                    ``(C) Supporting other innovations in plant-based 
                protein and food products, 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 programs and providing assistance to 
                plant-based companies and industry;
                    ``(B) advising the Secretary with respect to the 
                promotion of plant protein products;
                    ``(C) coordinating with the agencies and officials 
                of the Department to update relevant programs;
                    ``(D) engaging in stakeholder relations and 
                developing external partnerships;
                    ``(E) identifying common State and municipal best 
                practices for navigating local policies;
                    ``(F) coordinating networks of existing stakeholder 
                organizations; and
                    ``(G) collaborating with heads of other Federal 
                agencies, including the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
    ``(b) Emerging Protein 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 
        Emerging Protein and Innovative Production Advisory Committee 
        (referred to in this subsection as the `Committee') to advise 
        the Secretary on--
                    ``(A) the development of policies and outreach 
                relating to protein-rich foods sourced from plant 
                ingredients and 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 12 members, of whom--
                            ``(i) 4 shall be individuals who are 
                        agricultural producers, of whom--
                                    ``(I) 2 individuals shall be 
                                agricultural producers located in a 
                                rural area; and
                                    ``(II) 2 individuals shall be 
                                farmers that use innovative technology;
                            ``(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) 2 shall be individuals with related 
                        experience or expertise in research focused on 
                        protein-rich foods sourced from plants and in 
                        products sourced from plants 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) 4 of the members, as determined by 
                        the Secretary, shall be appointed for a term of 
                        3 years;
                            ``(ii) 4 of the members, as determined by 
                        the Secretary, shall be appointed for a term of 
                        2 years; and
                            ``(iii) 4 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 180 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 and advise 
                        the Director on policies, initiatives, and 
                        outreach administered by the Office of Emerging 
                        Protein and Innovative Production;
                            ``(ii) evaluate and review ongoing research 
                        and extension activities relating to protein-
                        rich products sourced from plants and the 
                        development of other plant-based foods;
                            ``(iii) identify new and existing barriers 
                        to successful plant protein product development 
                        and emerging agricultural practices employed by 
                        plant protein producers; and
                            ``(iv) provide additional assistance and 
                        advice to the Director as appropriate.
                    ``(B) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date on which the Committee is established, and every 2 
                years through 2028, 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).
            ``(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) Grants.--The Director shall award competitive grants to 
support the development of plant-based foods and related innovative 
production to any of the following eligible entities:
            ``(1) A nonprofit organization.
            ``(2) A unit of local government.
            ``(3) A Tribal government.
            ``(4) Any school that serves any of grades kindergarten 
        through grade 12.
            ``(5) A for-profit organization with fewer than 500 
        employees.
            ``(6) An institution of higher education, including a land-
        grant college or university and a nonland-grant college of 
        agriculture (as those terms are defined in section 1404 of the 
        National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
        Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)).
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `plant protein product' means a protein 
        product made from a plant (such as a vegetable, bean, or 
        legume), fungi, or other nonanimal source of protein.
            ``(2) The term `plant protein producer' means a producer of 
        a plant protein product or any processed or manufactured 
        product thereof.
    ``(e) 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 2024 through 2028.''.

SEC. 16. PLANT-BASED FOOD INNOVATION INITIATIVES.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture (in this section 
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall select not fewer than 5 
eligible entities to host regionally located plant-based food product 
and business innovation initiatives for the purposes of--
            (1) diversifying product markets to reduce risk and 
        developing higher-value use for such products;
            (2) promoting business development that diversifies the 
        income of producers of plant-based food products through 
        processing and market innovation; and
            (3) encouraging the production and use of plant-based food 
        products and domestic ingredients for such products.
    (b) Entities Eligible To Host Initiative.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an entity is 
        eligible to host an initiative under subsection (a) if such 
        entity is a State department of agriculture or other State 
        entity, a nonprofit organization, or an institution of higher 
        education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that has--
                    (A) a capacity to provide consultation and 
                expertise necessary to advance the purpose and 
                activities of the proposed initiative; and
                    (B) expertise in grant distribution and tracking.
            (2) Ineligible entity.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an 
        animal protein checkoff program shall not be eligible to host 
        an initiative under subsection (a).
            (3) Application.--An eligible entity seeking to host an 
        initiative under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary 
        an application in such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the Secretary may specify.
    (c) Consultation.--An entity that hosts an initiative shall consult 
with the Secretary, and the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing 
Service in carrying out the initiative.
    (d) Partners.--
            (1) In general.--An entity eligible to host an initiative 
        under subsection (a) may, for purposes of hosting such 
        initiative, partner with an organization or entity with 
        expertise or experience in proteins, including the marketing, 
        research, education, or promotion of plant-based food product.
            (2) Timing.--A partnership established pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) may be established--
                    (A) prior to the submission of the application 
                under subsection (d); or
                    (B) after approval of the application, in 
                consultation with the Secretary.
    (e) Activities of Initiatives.--
            (1) Assistance to producers of plant-based food products.--
                    (A) Direct assistance.--An initiative established 
                under subsection (a) shall provide directly to 
                producers of plant-based food products assistance 
                through private consultation or widely available 
                distribution. Such assistance may be provided--
                            (i) by the entity that hosts the initiative 
                        under subsection (d)(1);
                            (ii) through contracting with industry 
                        experts;
                            (iii) through the provision of technical 
                        assistance, such as informational websites, 
                        webinars, conferences, trainings, plant tours, 
                        and field days;
                            (iv) through research institutions; or
                            (v) through workforce development programs.
                    (B) Grants.--An initiative may provide a grant on a 
                noncompetitive basis to an entity that receives 
                assistance under subparagraph (A) to advance the 
                business activities recommended as a result of that 
                assistance.
            (2) Types of assistance.--Assistance provided by an 
        initiative established under subsection (a) may include--
                    (A) business consulting, including business plan 
                development for plant-based food products, strategic 
                planning assistance, and distribution and supply chain 
                innovation;
                    (B) marketing and branding assistance, including 
                market messaging, packaging innovation, consumer 
                assessments, innovation in emerging market 
                opportunities, and evaluation of regional, national, 
                and international markets;
                    (C) assistance in product innovation, including the 
                development of value-added products, innovation in 
                byproduct reprocessing and use maximization, and 
                product production training, including in new, rare, or 
                innovative techniques; and
                    (D) other assistance, as determined by the 
                Secretary.
            (3) Grants to plant-based food product businesses.--
                    (A) In general.--An initiative shall provide grants 
                on a competitive basis to new and existing producers of 
                plant-based food products developing plant-based food 
                products for the purpose of--
                            (i) modernization, specialization, and 
                        transition of equipment and facilities;
                            (ii) value chain and commodity innovation 
                        and facility and process updates for plant-
                        based proteins producers;
                            (iii) product development, packaging, and 
                        marketing of protein products; and
                            (iv) transitioning from a livestock or 
                        dairy-based production to a plant-based food 
                        product-based production.
                    (B) Grant amounts.--Grants provided under this 
                paragraph shall not exceed $500,000, unless a greater 
                amount is approved by the Secretary.
            (4) Conflict of interest.--The Secretary shall establish 
        guidelines and procedures to prevent any conflict of interest 
        or the appearance of a conflict of interest by an initiative 
        (including a partner of the initiative) with respect to 
        providing funding under paragraph (1) or (3). An initiative 
        shall agree, as a condition on the receipt of funds under this 
        section, to comply with such guidelines and procedures.
            (5) Priority.--In providing direct assistance under 
        paragraph (1) and grants under paragraph (3), an initiative 
        shall give priority to--
                    (A) producers of plant-based food products with 
                limited access to other forms of assistance;
                    (B) employee-owned businesses;
                    (C) minority-owned and other businesses owned by 
                members of historically disadvantaged communities;
                    (D) cooperatives;
                    (E) producers of plant-based food products that add 
                substantial value in processing or marketing, such as 
                whole-cut products and specialty products; and
                    (F) institutions of higher education that primarily 
                serve minorities.
            (6) Requirement.--A foreign person making a direct 
        investment (as those terms are defined in section 801.2 of 
        title 15, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
        regulations)) in the United States is not eligible to receive 
        direct assistance under subsection (f)(1) or a grant under 
        subsection (f)(3).
    (f) Distribution of Funds.--
            (1) Multiyear funding allocations.--In distributing funds 
        made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 
        seek to make awards in multiyear funding allocations.
            (2) Use of funds.--Not less than 50 percent of the funds 
        made available under subsection (i) shall be allocated to 
        grants under subsection (f)(3).
    (g) Report.--Not later than January 31, 2027, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report on--
            (1) the outcomes of the initiatives under this section; and
            (2) any related activities and opportunities that the 
        Secretary may pursue to further increase protein innovation.
    (h) Animal Protein Checkoff Program Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``animal protein checkoff program'' means a commodity promotion 
program under a commodity promotion law (as defined in section 501 of 
the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
7401)) with respect to commodities consisting of, or produced using 
animal proteins.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2023 through 2028.
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