[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7163 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7163

 To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
    Policy Act of 1977 to establish the Climate Scientific Research 
  Advisory Committee and the Rural Climate Alliance Network, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 31, 2024

 Ms. Brownley (for herself and Ms. Crockett) introduced the following 
        bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
    Policy Act of 1977 to establish the Climate Scientific Research 
  Advisory Committee and the Rural Climate Alliance Network, 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 ``Improving Coordination of 
Agriculture Research and Data Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to strategically align agriculture climate research and 
        data systems;
            (2) to strengthen technical assistance and technology 
        transfer; and
            (3) to establish a national agriculture climate research 
        agenda to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

SEC. 3. AGRICULTURE CLIMATE RESEARCH COORDINATION AND DATA.

    (a) Agriculture Climate Scientific Research Advisory Committee.--
Subtitle B of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 1413C. AGRICULTURE CLIMATE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ADVISORY 
              COMMITTEE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish within the 
Office of the Chief Scientist an advisory committee, to be known as the 
`Agriculture Climate Scientific Research Advisory Committee' (referred 
to in this section as the `Committee').
    ``(b) Duties.--The Committee shall--
            ``(1) review, and make recommendations and provide 
        consultation to the Secretary regarding, the long-term and 
        short-term national policies and priorities of the Department 
        of Agriculture for--
                    ``(A) data collection for climate-specific 
                agricultural research, extension, education, and 
                economics; and
                    ``(B) agricultural climate research priority areas 
                and scientific agendas for measuring, monitoring, 
                reporting, and verification of climate and 
                environmental outcomes that include--
                            ``(i) carbon removal, carbon sequestration, 
                        and greenhouse gas emission related to 
                        agriculture;
                            ``(ii) soil health;
                            ``(iii) livestock methane production;
                            ``(iv) wetland management; and
                            ``(v) climate smart agriculture practices;
            ``(2) identify gaps in current agriculture climate research 
        and develop a biennial national research agenda and annual 
        scientific recommendations to address areas of critical need 
        for publicly funded agriculture climate research;
            ``(3)(A) every 5 years, evaluate the results and 
        effectiveness of climate-specific agricultural research, 
        extension, education, and economics with respect to the 
        policies and priorities described in paragraph (1); and
            ``(B) make recommendations to the Secretary based on such 
        evaluation;
            ``(4) review and make programmatic and priority research 
        recommendations to the Under Secretary for Research, Education, 
        and Economics on the climate-specific agricultural research, 
        extension, education, and economics described in paragraph 
        (3)(A);
            ``(5) review and make recommendations on the mechanisms of 
        the Department of Agriculture for technology assessment, which 
        shall be conducted by qualified professionals, for the purposes 
        of--
                    ``(A) performance measurement and evaluation of the 
                implementation by the Secretary of the strategic plan 
                of the Department of Agriculture required under section 
                306 of title 5, United States Code;
                    ``(B) implementation of climate-specific national 
                research policies and priorities that are consistent 
                with the purposes described in section 1402; and
                    ``(C) the development of mechanisms for the 
                assessment of emerging public and private climate-
                specific agricultural research and technology transfer 
                initiatives;
            ``(6) every 5 years, establish and update standardized data 
        collection, management, and dissemination protocols for--
                    ``(A) agriculture climate research programs of the 
                Department of Agriculture; and
                    ``(B) initiatives of the Rural Climate Alliance 
                Network established under section 1419(c);
            ``(7)(A) consult with industry groups, producer networks, 
        advocacy organizations, scientific societies, and higher 
        education associations on climate-specific agricultural 
        research, extension, education, and economics; and
            ``(B) make recommendations to the Secretary based on such 
        consultation;
            ``(8) consult with, and receive communications from, other 
        Federal departments and agencies on climate plans and 
        priorities relating to agriculture and forestry for the purpose 
        of advising the Secretary of opportunities for collaboration, 
        coordination, and avoiding duplication;
            ``(9)(A) review climate research technology transfer and 
        new scientific practices for climate mitigation and adaptation; 
        and
            ``(B) make recommendations to the Rural Climate Alliance 
        Network established under section 1419(c) based on such review; 
        and
            ``(10) review and suggest annual budget recommendations to 
        support a climate research agenda for the Secretary to propose 
        in each annual budget of the Department of Agriculture.
    ``(c) Membership.--
            ``(1) Number and appointment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed 
                of 18 members as follows:
                            ``(i) The Secretary.
                            ``(ii) The Chief Scientist.
                            ``(iii) The Director of the Global Climate 
                        Change Program established under section 2402 
                        of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
                        Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6701).
                            ``(iv) The Under Secretary for Natural 
                        Resources and Environment.
                            ``(v) The Under Secretary for Farm 
                        Production and Conservation.
                            ``(vi) The Under Secretary for Marketing 
                        and Regulatory Programs.
                            ``(vii) The Executive Director of the 
                        Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.
                            ``(viii) The Administrator of the 
                        Agricultural Research Service.
                            ``(ix) The Director of the National 
                        Institute of Food and Agriculture.
                            ``(x) The Administrator of the Economic 
                        Research Service.
                            ``(xi) The Administrator of the National 
                        Agricultural Statistics Service.
                            ``(xii) The Director of the Office of 
                        Energy and Environmental Policy.
                            ``(xiii) The Deputy Chief for Research and 
                        Development of the Forest Service.
                            ``(xiv) 1 member of the National Academy of 
                        Sciences, to be appointed by the Secretary.
                            ``(xv) 4 members to be appointed by the 
                        Secretary from nominations submitted by the 
                        nominating entities described in subparagraph 
                        (B).
                    ``(B) Nominating entities described.--The 
                nominating entities described in this subparagraph are 
                organizations, associations, societies, cooperative 
                extensions, State agricultural experiment stations, 
                technical assistance provider organizations, councils, 
                federations, producer groups, agriculture manufacturing 
                entities, restaurants, the food service industry, the 
                agriculture technology industry, environmental 
                organizations, forestry organizations, nonprofit 
                organizations, and companies or other entities as 
                determined appropriate by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Terms.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), members of the Committee appointed 
                under clause (xiv) or (xv) of paragraph (1)(A) shall be 
                appointed for a term of not more than 6 years.
                    ``(B) Terms of initial appointees.--The initial 
                members of the Committee appointed under clause (xiv) 
                or (xv) of paragraph (1)(A) shall be appointed for the 
                following terms:
                            ``(i) 2 shall be appointed for a term of 2 
                        years, which may be extended by the Secretary 
                        for an additional 6 years.
                            ``(ii) 2 shall be appointed for a term of 4 
                        years, which may be extended by the Secretary 
                        for an additional 6 years.
                            ``(iii) 1 shall be appointed for a term of 
                        6 years.
                    ``(C) Limitation.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), members of the Committee appointed 
                under clause (xiv) or (xv) of paragraph (1)(A) may not 
                serve consecutive terms on the Committee.
                    ``(D) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Committee--
                            ``(i) shall not affect the duties of the 
                        Committee under this section; and
                            ``(ii) shall be filled in the same manner 
                        as the original appointment.
            ``(3) Chairperson, vice chairperson, and executive 
        subcommittee.--
                    ``(A) Election.--At the first meeting of the 
                Committee each calendar year, the Committee shall elect 
                from among the members of the Committee--
                            ``(i) a chairperson;
                            ``(ii) a vice chairperson; and
                            ``(iii) 7 members to serve on the executive 
                        subcommittee established under subparagraph 
                        (B).
                    ``(B) Executive subcommittee.--The Committee shall 
                establish an executive subcommittee charged with the 
                responsibility of working with the Secretary and 
                officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture 
                to summarize and disseminate the recommendations of the 
                Committee.
    ``(d) Consultation and Recommendations.--
            ``(1) Duties of committee.--In fulfilling the duties of the 
        Committee under this section, the Committee shall consult with 
        appropriate agencies of the Department of Agriculture.
            ``(2) Duties of secretary.--After receiving recommendations 
        from the Committee pursuant to any provision in this section, 
        the Secretary shall provide a written response to the Committee 
        regarding the manner and extent to which the Secretary will 
        implement such recommendations.
    ``(e) Compensation and Personnel.--
            ``(1) Appointment of executive director and staff.--To 
        assist the Committee in the performance of the duties of the 
        Committee, the Secretary may appoint, without regard to the 
        civil service laws, and after consultation with the chairperson 
        of the Committee--
                    ``(A) a full-time executive director, who shall--
                            ``(i) perform such duties as the 
                        chairperson of the Committee may direct; and
                            ``(ii) receive compensation at a rate not 
                        to exceed the rate payable for GS-15 of the 
                        General Schedule established by section 5332 of 
                        title 5, United States Code; and
                    ``(B) a professional staff of not more than 3 full-
                time employees qualified in climate-specific 
                agricultural research, extension, education, and 
                economics, of which 1 shall serve as the executive 
                secretary of the Committee.
            ``(2) Additional assistance and personnel.--The Secretary 
        shall detail, on a reimbursable basis, personnel of the 
        Department of Agriculture to the Committee as necessary to 
        assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under this 
        section.
            ``(3) Compensation of members.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), members of the Committee shall serve 
                without pay for each day during which such members are 
                engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in 
                the Committee.
                    ``(B) Prohibition of compensation of federal 
                employees.--Members of the Committee who are full-time 
                officers or employees of the United States may not 
                receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by 
                reason of their service on the Committee.
                    ``(C) Travel expenses.--A member of the Committee 
                shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
                lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees 
                of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
                5, United States Code, while away from the home or 
                regular place of business of the member in the 
                performance of services for the Committee.
    ``(f) Federal Advisory Committee Act Charter.--The Committee shall 
be deemed to have filed a charter for the purpose of section 1008(c) of 
title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the `Federal Advisory 
Committee Act').
    ``(g) Termination.--Section 1013(a)(2) of title 5, United States 
Code (relating to the termination of advisory committees), shall not 
apply to the Committee.
    ``(h) Committee Expenses Not Counted Toward General Limitations.--
The expenses of the Committee shall not be counted toward any general 
limitation on the expenses of advisory committees, panels, commissions, 
and task forces of the Department of Agriculture contained in any Act 
making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, whether 
enacted before, on, or after the date of enactment of this section, 
unless the appropriation Act specifically refers to this subsection and 
specifically includes the Committee within the general limitation.''.
    (b) Rural Climate Alliance Network.--Subtitle C of title XIV of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 is amended by inserting after section 1418 (7 U.S.C. 3153) the 
following:

``SEC. 1419. RURAL CLIMATE ALLIANCE NETWORK.

    ``(a) Definition of Agricultural Producer.--In this section, the 
term `agricultural producer' means an individual who is engaged in 
farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, or another occupation 
relating to agriculture.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
            ``(1) to provide science-based climate adaptation and 
        mitigation assistance and training programs to rural 
        communities and agricultural producers;
            ``(2) to coordinate the transfer of new technology and 
        research relating to climate change that will impact behavioral 
        and management changes to agricultural systems, including to--
                    ``(A) individuals who work in the field of climate 
                science, including agricultural producers; and
                    ``(B) individuals, organizations, and other 
                entities with an established history of working with 
                agricultural producers;
            ``(3) to improve agriculture research collaboration, data 
        collection, and partnerships and the sharing of information 
        about new scientific advancements in climate research, as well 
        as inform future research efforts; and
            ``(4) to facilitate the exchange of regional agriculture 
        climate data and research through a network of partners.
    ``(c) Rural Climate Alliance Network.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and 
        administer through the Climate Hubs a network, to be known as 
        the `Rural Climate Alliance Network' (referred to in this 
        subsection as the `Network')--
                    ``(A) that serves as a coordination hub for the 
                provision of agriculture climate research, climate 
                data, extension, and technical assistance for 
                agricultural producers, the food and agricultural 
                industry, nonprofit organizations relating to food and 
                agriculture, and researchers relating to food and 
                agriculture to address the effects of climate change; 
                and
                    ``(B) to improve--
                            ``(i) responses to climate disasters 
                        through data collection and information 
                        sharing;
                            ``(ii) communication of climate risks;
                            ``(iii) accessible education and technical 
                        transfer of climate-related, regionally 
                        relevant agricultural data and research to 
                        agricultural producers in all regionally 
                        appropriate languages;
                            ``(iv) tools and networks that deliver 
                        information to prevent damage from extreme 
                        weather events, pest and disease outbreaks, and 
                        other related climate change impacts;
                            ``(v) communication between agricultural 
                        producers and the agricultural research 
                        community to ensure that agricultural research 
                        considers the perspectives of agricultural 
                        producers, such as changes in yield and 
                        fluctuating costs of inputs;
                            ``(vi) coordination between other Federal 
                        agencies, as the Secretary determines 
                        appropriate; and
                            ``(vii) coordination between entities in 
                        the private sector, such as participants in the 
                        agricultural and food supply chains that work 
                        with agricultural producers, relating to 
                        climate data, adaptation, mitigation, and 
                        response.
            ``(2) Composition.--The Network shall include--
                    ``(A) entities, and employees of entities, that 
                conduct research, exchange data, provide monitoring and 
                verification services, or provide technical assistance 
                relating to food and agriculture, including--
                            ``(i) colleges and universities;
                            ``(ii) State cooperative institutions;
                            ``(iii) State extension services;
                            ``(iv) State departments of agriculture;
                            ``(v) State agricultural experiment 
                        stations;
                            ``(vi) Indian Tribes (as defined in section 
                        4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
                        Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
                            ``(vii) qualified nonprofit organizations, 
                        as determined by the Secretary;
                            ``(viii) qualified private businesses, as 
                        determined by the Secretary;
                            ``(ix) agricultural producers, producer 
                        groups, or producer organizations, including 
                        agricultural trade associations and research 
                        and promotion boards (commonly known as 
                        `checkoffs');
                            ``(x) agencies and offices within the 
                        Department of Agriculture; and
                            ``(xi) any other technical assistance 
                        provider, research entity, or data analytics 
                        entity that the Secretary determines to be 
                        qualified to participate in the Network;
                    ``(B) climate resilience-related research networks 
                within the Department of Agriculture, including--
                            ``(i) the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research 
                        Network;
                            ``(ii) the Extension Disaster Education 
                        Network;
                            ``(iii) the Eastern Forest Environmental 
                        Threat Assessment Center;
                            ``(iv) the Western Wildland Environmental 
                        Threat Assessment Center;
                            ``(v) the Sustainable Agriculture Research 
                        and Education program;
                            ``(vi) the National Soil Dynamics 
                        Laboratory;
                            ``(vii) the National Cooperative Soil 
                        Survey;
                            ``(viii) the Economic Research Service;
                            ``(ix) regional and rural development 
                        centers; and
                            ``(x) other existing climate-related 
                        research networks within the Department of 
                        Agriculture that the Secretary determines to be 
                        appropriate to participate in the Network; and
                    ``(C) other government-affiliated entities and 
                climate resilience-related research networks outside of 
                the Department of Agriculture, including--
                            ``(i) the Foundation for Food and 
                        Agriculture Research;
                            ``(ii) the U.S. Global Change Research 
                        Program;
                            ``(iii) State and public weather station 
                        networks;
                            ``(iv) the National Weather Service and 
                        other weather data systems within the National 
                        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
                            ``(v) the harvest program of the National 
                        Aeronautics and Space Administration; and
                            ``(vi) other existing local, State, or 
                        Federal climate-related research networks, as 
                        determined by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Activities of the Network.--
            ``(1) In general.--An individual or entity within the 
        Network may--
                    ``(A) through the means described in paragraph 
                (2)--
                            ``(i) initiate, expand, or sustain 
                        agricultural research programs that build 
                        capacity to mitigate, respond to, and recover 
                        from climate change disasters, including--
                                    ``(I) programs of the Agricultural 
                                Research Service;
                                    ``(II) the Agriculture and Food 
                                Research Initiative;
                                    ``(III) the Sustainable Agriculture 
                                Research and Education program;
                                    ``(IV) the Agriculture Advanced 
                                Research and Development Authority; and
                                    ``(V) programs of the Foundation 
                                for Food and Agriculture Research;
                            ``(ii) inform and advise about agricultural 
                        climate variability, change, vulnerability, 
                        risk, adaptation, and mitigation;
                            ``(iii) respond to climate impacts on 
                        ecosystems, economics, and diversity;
                            ``(iv) collect and store agricultural 
                        climate data to share with other individuals 
                        and entities within the Network and Federal 
                        research partners;
                            ``(v) assist agricultural producers in 
                        implementing new management approaches to adapt 
                        to, reduce the risk of, and provide societal 
                        solutions to mitigate climate change;
                            ``(vi) transfer technology, research 
                        outcomes, and information; and
                            ``(vii) improve climate change awareness, 
                        education, and planning assistance, as 
                        necessary; and
                    ``(B) enter into cooperative agreements or 
                contracts, on a multiyear basis, with community-based, 
                direct-service organizations to initiate, expand, or 
                sustain--
                            ``(i) activities carried out under 
                        subparagraph (A) and paragraph (2); or
                            ``(ii) programs described in subsection 
                        (b)(1).
            ``(2) Means described.--An eligible entity may carry out 
        the activities described in paragraph (1)(A) through--
                    ``(A) the development of phone technology, online 
                applications, websites, handbooks, manuals, 
                publications, warning systems, and other communication 
                networks in all regionally appropriate languages;
                    ``(B) training, including training programs and 
                workshops, for disseminating information to--
                            ``(i) crop insurance agents;
                            ``(ii) loan and credit officers;
                            ``(iii) agricultural suppliers;
                            ``(iv) agricultural producers;
                            ``(v) State cooperative agents;
                            ``(vi) third-party providers (as defined in 
                        section 1242(a) of the Food Security Act of 
                        1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(a)));
                            ``(vii) Certified Crop Advisers and 
                        Certified Professional Soil Scientists 
                        certified by the American Society of Agronomy;
                            ``(viii) Federal officers and employees, 
                        including officers and employees of the Natural 
                        Resources Conservation Service, the Farm 
                        Service Agency, the Agricultural Research 
                        Service, and the Forest Service;
                            ``(ix) non-Federal technical assistance 
                        providers;
                            ``(x) climate change experts who work with 
                        agricultural producers; and
                            ``(xi) other individuals and entities that 
                        may--
                                    ``(I) assist agricultural producers 
                                who are vulnerable to climate impacts; 
                                or
                                    ``(II) provide societal solutions 
                                to mitigate the climate impacts of 
                                agriculture;
                    ``(C) curriculum development for managing climate 
                risks, mitigating climate change, and understanding 
                climate risks and economic implications; and
                    ``(D) such other means as the Secretary determines 
                to be appropriate.
    ``(e) Report to Congress.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Improving Coordination of Agriculture Research 
        and Data Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress and any 
        relevant Federal department or agency, and make publicly 
        available, a report describing--
                    ``(A) the current needs of climate mitigation and 
                resilience research and data systems in the food and 
                agriculture sector;
                    ``(B) progress made toward developing and adopting 
                climate solutions across the food and agriculture 
                system;
                    ``(C) technical assistance needs of rural 
                communities and agricultural producers;
                    ``(D) actions and recommendations of the 
                Agriculture Climate Scientific Research Committee 
                (established under section 1413C); and
                    ``(E) recommended Federal budget activities and 
                funding levels for research, data systems, and 
                technical assistance priorities relating to climate 
                mitigation.
            ``(2) Contents.--The report under paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    ``(A) an inventory and assessment of efforts to 
                support the climate change adaptation, mitigation, risk 
                management, and resilience tools for agricultural 
                producers by--
                            ``(i) the Federal Government;
                            ``(ii) States and territories of the United 
                        States;
                            ``(iii) Indian Tribes (as defined in 
                        section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
                        Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
                            ``(iv) units of local government;
                            ``(v) communities comprising agricultural 
                        producers;
                            ``(vi) qualified nonprofit organizations, 
                        as determined by the Secretary;
                            ``(vii) agriculture and food businesses;
                            ``(viii) State extension services;
                            ``(ix) land-grant colleges and 
                        universities; and
                            ``(x) other appropriate entities, as 
                        determined by the Secretary;
                    ``(B) a baseline report on soil carbon 
                sequestration on measurable soil carbon stocks and 
                sequestration;
                    ``(C) a description of the challenges faced by 
                agricultural producers that may impact the climate 
                change resilience of those agricultural producers;
                    ``(D) a long-term strategy for responding to the 
                challenges described under subparagraph (C) and 
                recommendations based on best practices for further 
                action to be carried out by appropriate Federal 
                departments or agencies--
                            ``(i) to improve the response by the 
                        Federal Government to those challenges; and
                            ``(ii) to seek to improve climate change 
                        resilience among rural communities and 
                        agricultural producers; and
                    ``(E) an evaluation of the impact that climate 
                change challenges faced by rural communities, Indian 
                Tribes, and agricultural producers have on--
                            ``(i) the agricultural workforce;
                            ``(ii) agricultural production;
                            ``(iii) rural families and communities, 
                        including relating to food security; and
                            ``(iv) succession planning.''.
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