Transparency and accountability for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

Section 2501A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279–1) is amended— (1)in subsection (c)— (A)in paragraph (3), in the paragraph heading, by striking

Report

and inserting

Compilation and presenting of data

; and (B)in paragraph (4), by striking the report described in paragraph (3) and inserting the following: “a report that contains—

(A)the compiled and presented data under paragraph (3); (B)a description of trends in that data over 5- and 10-year periods; and (C) a discussion of efforts to implement necessary improvements to equity identified through activities under subsection (f), including metrics to quantify, and timelines for implementation, of those improvements.

; and

(2)by adding at the end the following:

(f)

Examination and assessment of programs

In furtherance of the purposes of this section, the Secretary shall use data collected under this section to examine and assess programs and policies of the Department of Agriculture to identify and understand— (1)communities, organizations, groups, and individuals in need of services or benefits provided under Department programs; and (2)the extent to which participants benefitting from funding distributed under Department programs align with the communities, organizations, groups, and individuals described in paragraph (1) such that the funding effectively reduces disparities in access to Department programs.

Ensuring accountability for equity

(a)

In general

Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by inserting after section 216 (7 U.S.C. 6916) the following:

217.

Ensuring accountability for equity

(a)

Performance evaluations

A performance evaluation of an individual occupying a position of the head of an agency or a senior executive of the Department shall include an evaluation of appropriate direct efforts of the individual to improve equity in the programs and services under the jurisdiction of the agency head or senior executive. (b)

Customer experience

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall issue uniform, Department-wide guidance for each agency and office of the Department relating to— (A)collecting feedback from participants in Department programs; (B)responding to that feedback; and (C)using that feedback to improve efforts to provide more equitable and consistent services to all individuals that seek service from and engage with the Department. (2)

Requirements

The guidance issued under paragraph (1) shall require— (A)opportunities for participants to provide feedback through multiple means, such as evaluations, surveys, or such other means as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; (B)opportunities described in subparagraph (A) to be advertised through means such as newspaper, radio, or such other means as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; (C)opportunities described in subparagraph (A) to be facilitated and advertised, and responses to feedback to be provided, in multiple languages, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and (D)specific opportunities for participants with direct involvement in a Department program to provide feedback, including by providing appropriate compensation to those participants for time and expertise. (c)

Customer service

(1)

Training

The Secretary shall ensure that employees of the Department receive cultural competency training, as appropriate for the roles of the employees. (2)

Language contracts

The Secretary shall consider, in entering into contracts or cooperative agreements for language translation or interpretation services, whether the needed services would best be provided by a community-based organization. (3)

Staff knowledge of applicable programs

(A)

Definitions

In this paragraph: (i)

Customer

The term customer means a recipient of, applicant for, or potential applicant for services or benefits under a Department program. (ii)

Frontline customer service staff

The term frontline customer service staff means an employee of the Department who directly interacts with customers. (B)

Capacity building

The Secretary shall build the capacity of frontline customer service staff to make available to customers the services or benefits for which the customers are eligible. (C)

Activities

In carrying out subparagraph (B), the Secretary may— (i)provide to frontline customer service staff of the Department— (I)training and mentoring relating to customer service skillsets; (II)training on technical tools at the disposal of the frontline customer service staff; and (III)training and shareable resources relating to— (aa)the Department programs for which a customer may be eligible; and (bb)the technical requirements and benefits of those programs; and (ii)establish a customer feedback opportunity after each interaction with the Department. (d)

Notifications to Congress

(1)

Lack of authority

If the Secretary identifies an opportunity to improve equity in a particular program or service but lacks authority to make the necessary changes, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a notification describing— (A)that opportunity and lack of authority; and (B)a recommendation for a legislative change. (2)

Insufficient resources

If the Secretary identifies the need for additional resources to improve equity in a particular program or service, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a notification that provides an explanation of the needed resources. (e)

Administration

The Secretary shall carry out this section using funding and staff from within existing budgets and appropriations for the Department.

(b)

Conforming amendment

Section 296(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(11)The authority of the Secretary to carry out section 217.