118 S2667 IS: Sustainable Farms, Fibers, and Forests Act of 2023 U.S. Senate 2023-07-27 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.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2667IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 27, 2023Mr. Luján introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryA BILLTo amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to include support for sustainable fibers in the Local Agriculture Market Program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Sustainable Farms, Fibers, and Forests Act of 2023.

2.

Sustainable farms, fibers, and forests

(a)

Definitions

Section 210A(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(a)) is amended—(1)by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (11), (12), and (13) as paragraphs (5) through (12), (14), and (15), respectively;(2)by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:(4)

Food

The term food includes sustainable fibers.; and(3)by inserting after paragraph (12) (as so redesignated) the following:(13)

Sustainable fibers

The term sustainable fibers means fibers produced by farming operations that use sustainable cropping or grazing systems, or other systems and practices beneficial to natural ecosystems, as determined by the Secretary, including—(A)textile products from plant-based fibers, such as cotton, flax, and hemp;(B)animal-based fibers and products, such as wool, alpaca, and leather; and(C)natural dye products, such as plant extracts..(b)

Technical assistance and outreach

Section 210A(c)(3) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(c)(3)) is amended by striking services, and inserting services and the National Agroforestry Center,.(c)

Eligible activities

Section 210A(d)(2)(A) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(d)(2)(A)) is amended—(1)in clause (v), by striking or at the end;(2)in clause (vi), by inserting or after the semicolon; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(vii)agroforestry, including demonstration infrastructure for farmer or landowner learning;.(d)

Regional food partnerships

Section 210A(e)(2) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(e)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:(C)

Agricultural product diversity

To the maximum extent practicable, in selecting partnerships to receive grants under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure diversity among the types of agricultural products supported by the partnerships, including sustainable fibers..