[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8179 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8179

   To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out research and 
    development with respect to winter oilseed crops, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 30, 2024

  Mr. Kustoff (for himself, Mr. Mann, and Mr. Strong) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out research and 
    development with respect to winter oilseed crops, 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 ``Winter Oilseed Study Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES AND FINDINGS.

    (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To ensure the continued growth of clean and sustainable 
        feedstocks, crops such as winter canola will need access to 
        crop insurance products that allow for additional growing 
        practices.
            (2) To recognize the importance and regionality 
        characteristics of rotationally and double-crop grown canola 
        and the economic and environmental benefits to producers.
            (3) By investing in lower carbon-intensity renewable fuels, 
        such as those produced from canola, the United States can 
        provide sustainable fuels, create jobs, enhance our rural 
        communities, and bolster our national security.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Canola improves farm economics by increasing yield in 
        cereal, soybean, and other crops that follow winter canola.
            (2) Canola oil is a source of renewable energy as a 
        feedstock for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and jet biofuel.
            (3) Canola oil-based renewable fuels reduce greenhouse gas 
        emissions by over 50 percent compared to conventional fuels, 
        providing significant air quality improvements.
            (4) Expanding winter canola production will provide 
        additional feedstock to meet growing renewable fuel demand 
        without bringing new land into production, which will yield an 
        even more favorable carbon intensity compared to conventional 
        fuels.

SEC. 3. STUDY OF INCLUSION OF CERTAIN OILSEED CROPS UNDER DOUBLE AND 
              ROTATIONAL CROPPING POLICIES.

    Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 4 U.S.C. 
1522(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(20) Double cropping and rotational cropping of certain 
        oilseed crops.--
                    ``(A) Definition of covered oilseed crops.--In this 
                paragraph, the term `covered oilseed crops' means 
                rapeseed and canola crops.
                    ``(B) Research and development.--The Corporation 
                shall carry out research and development, or offer to 
                enter into 1 or more contracts with 1 or more qualified 
                persons to carry out research and development, with 
                respect to the inclusion of covered oilseed crops under 
                double cropping and rotational cropping policies.
                    ``(C) Requirements.--The research and development 
                carried out pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall be 
                conducted in consultation with stakeholders to 
                evaluate--
                            ``(i) the factors impacting availability 
                        and cost of crop insurance when incorporating 
                        covered oilseed crops into double cropping and 
                        rotational cropping policies; and
                            ``(ii) the potential risk management 
                        benefits associated with incorporating covered 
                        oilseed crops into double cropping and 
                        rotational cropping policies, specifically with 
                        respect to winter planted covered oilseed 
                        crops, including risk management benefits to 
                        soil health, biodiversity, and the 
                        profitability of farming operations.
                    ``(D) Emphasis.--In awarding contracts under 
                subparagraph (B), the Corporation may place emphasis on 
                qualified persons that--
                            ``(i) have previous research experience 
                        with covered oilseed crops; and
                            ``(ii) have access to a facility with the 
                        capacity to carry out the applicable research.
                    ``(E) Report.--Not later than 13 months after the 
                date of enactment of this paragraph, the Corporation 
                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 that describes--
                            ``(i) the results of the research and 
                        development carried out under subparagraph (B); 
                        and
                            ``(ii) any recommendations with respect to 
                        those results.''.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AMENDMENTS.

    Section 1473D of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3319d) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) by redesignation subparagraph (F) as 
                subparagraph (G); and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the 
                following:
            ``(F) to examine potential benefits and opportunities for 
        supplemental and alternative crops (including winter-planted 
        rapeseed and winter-planted canola crops); and''; and
            (2) in subsection (e) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
        2029.''.

SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 13 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Corporation 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 that describes--
            (1) the results of the research and development carried out 
        under the amendments made by section 3; and
            (2) any recommendations with respect to those results.
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