[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2756 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2756

To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 
of 1998 and the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
to direct the Agricultural Research Service to expand organic research, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 11, 2023

  Mr. Fetterman (for himself and Mr. Braun) introduced the following 
      bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                  Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 
of 1998 and the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
to direct the Agricultural Research Service to expand organic research, 
                        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 ``Streamlining Organic Research Act of 
2023''.

SEC. 2. COORDINATING AND EXPANDING ORGANIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

    Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting before section 404 (7 U.S.C. 
7624) the following:

``SEC. 401. COORDINATING AND EXPANDING ORGANIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Initiative.--The term `Initiative' means the 
        Coordinating and Expanding Organic Research Initiative 
        established under subsection (b).
            ``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary, 
        acting through the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and 
        Economics, in consultation with the Office of the Chief 
        Scientist.
    ``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish, and appoint 
the members of, an initiative, to be known as the `Coordinating and 
Expanding Organic Research Initiative', to coordinate and expand the 
resources that the Agricultural Research Service, the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Economic Research Service, and 
the National Agricultural Statistics Service dedicate to organic 
agricultural research.
    ``(c) Duties.--The Initiative shall carry out the following duties:
            ``(1) Coordinating all research conducted by the Secretary 
        that is applicable to organic agricultural producers and 
        transitioning-to-organic agricultural producers.
            ``(2) Reviewing and assessing the completed and ongoing 
        organic and transitioning-to-organic agricultural research of 
        the Secretary.
            ``(3) Developing iterative strategic plans for future 
        organic and transitioning-to-organic agricultural research of 
        the Secretary.
            ``(4) Conducting the surveys and submitting to the 
        Secretary the reports under subsection (e)(1).
    ``(d) Appointment of Members.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall appoint not fewer 
        than 12, and not more than 18, members to the Initiative.
            ``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible for appointment to the 
        Initiative under paragraph (1), an individual shall--
                    ``(A) be in the competitive service or the Senior 
                Executive Service (as defined in sections 2102 and 
                2101a of title 5, United States Code); and
                    ``(B) have expertise in organic agriculture from a 
                science, research, or technical assistance division of 
                a Department agency.
            ``(3) Representation.--In appointing members to the 
        Initiative, the Secretary shall ensure that--
                    ``(A) not fewer than \1/4\ of the members are 
                appointed from each of--
                            ``(i) the Agricultural Research Service; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the National Institute of Food and 
                        Agriculture; and
                    ``(B) not fewer than 1 member is appointed from 
                each of--
                            ``(i) the Office of the Chief Scientist;
                            ``(ii) the Agricultural Marketing Service;
                            ``(iii) the Economic Research Service; and
                            ``(iv) the National Agricultural Statistics 
                        Service.
            ``(4) Chair.--The Secretary shall designate a member of the 
        Initiative appointed from the Office of the Chief Scientist to 
        serve as the Chair of the Initiative.
            ``(5) Term.--A member of the Initiative--
                    ``(A) shall serve for a term of 5 years; and
                    ``(B) may be reappointed to the Initiative.
    ``(e) Surveys; Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the 
        establishment of the Initiative, and every 5 years thereafter, 
        in coordination with the roadmap for agricultural research, 
        education, and extension described in section 7504 of the Food, 
        Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7614a), the 
        Initiative shall--
                    ``(A) conduct a survey of all research relating to 
                organic agriculture of the Secretary; and
                    ``(B) submit to the Secretary a report containing 
                the findings of the survey conducted under subparagraph 
                (A), which shall include sections relating to each of 
                the 4 agencies described in subsection (b).
            ``(2) Recommendations.--The Initiative shall include in 
        each report submitted under paragraph (1)(B) recommendations 
        relating to--
                    ``(A) expanding the research conducted by the 
                Secretary that--
                            ``(i) is applicable to agricultural 
                        producers that adhere to the requirements under 
                        the national organic program established under 
                        the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 
                        U.S.C. 6501 et seq.); and
                            ``(ii) would explore the new or enhanced 
                        research opportunities that could lead to new 
                        discoveries, foster innovation, improve 
                        technologies, and promote integrated systems 
                        approaches to assist--
                                    ``(I) organic agricultural 
                                producers;
                                    ``(II) consumers of organic food 
                                products;
                                    ``(III) organic marketing and 
                                distribution channels;
                                    ``(IV) transitioning-to-organic 
                                agricultural producers, including with 
                                respect to barriers to transitioning to 
                                organic production and producers who 
                                have considered transitioning to 
                                organic production but decided not to 
                                do so; and
                                    ``(V) the organic food industry;
                    ``(B) strategies to increase the coordination and 
                effectiveness of projects carried out by the Secretary 
                that are applicable to organic production and that 
                would improve the efficiency, productivity, 
                profitability, and ecosystem services of organic crop 
                and livestock production, including strategies relating 
                to--
                            ``(i) developing new public plant cultivars 
                        and livestock breeds that are regionally 
                        adapted and appropriate for organic production;
                            ``(ii) expanding the applicability and 
                        cost-effectiveness of integrated, ecologically 
                        based pest, weed, and disease management for 
                        crop and livestock systems;
                            ``(iii) developing integrated organic 
                        production systems that--
                                    ``(I) enhance ecosystem services 
                                relating to organic crop and livestock 
                                production; and
                                    ``(II) optimize agricultural 
                                resilience to the impacts of climate 
                                change and other stresses, including 
                                soil conservation and soil health, 
                                biodiversity, water management, carbon 
                                sequestration, and greenhouse gas 
                                mitigation;
                            ``(iv) improving the remote sensing and 
                        monitoring capabilities for ecosystem services 
                        relating to organic crop and livestock 
                        production, including soil conservation and 
                        soil health, biodiversity, water management, 
                        carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas 
                        mitigation;
                            ``(v) developing grazing, pasture, forage, 
                        and livestock manure management techniques that 
                        are regionally adapted and appropriate for 
                        organic production;
                            ``(vi) enhancing irrigation and water 
                        management techniques used in organic crop and 
                        livestock production;
                            ``(vii) enhancing food safety relating to 
                        organic crops and livestock products, including 
                        guidance on compliance with the Federal Food, 
                        Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.);
                            ``(viii) developing new products and new 
                        uses of organic crops and livestock products;
                            ``(ix) enhancing the quality of organically 
                        produced food, including taste, appearance, and 
                        nutritional value, after being processed into 
                        organic crop and livestock products, through 
                        genetic, processing, and related research 
                        topics; and
                            ``(x) other similar, relevant topics, as 
                        determined by the Initiative; and
                    ``(C) the development of data and applied research-
                based information useful to organic and conventional 
                crop producers, associations of those producers, and 
                other interested beneficiaries in evaluating the 
                organic and conventional crops industries from a 
                regional and national perspective.
            ``(3) Review of prior report.--The Initiative shall include 
        in each report submitted under paragraph (1)(B)--
                    ``(A) a review of the recommendations described in 
                paragraph (2) included in the prior report submitted 
                under paragraph (1)(B); and
                    ``(B) the actions taken by the Secretary to 
                implement those recommendations.
    ``(f) Consultation.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Initiative shall engage in consultation, including with--
                    ``(A) the National Organic Standards Board; and
                    ``(B) land-grant colleges and universities.
            ``(2) Organic and conventional industries.--In preparing 
        each report under subsection (e)(1)(B), the Initiative shall 
        consult, on an ongoing basis, with a diverse array of--
                    ``(A) organic and conventional farmers, ranchers, 
                handlers; and
                    ``(B) organizations that serve those farmers, 
                ranchers, and handlers.
    ``(g) Consideration by Secretary.--In preparing the annual budget 
recommendations for the Department, the Secretary shall take into 
consideration the findings and recommendations contained in the most 
recently submitted report under subsection (e)(1)(B).
    ``(h) Report by Secretary.--In the budget material submitted to 
Congress by the Secretary of Agriculture in connection with the budget 
of the United States Government submitted by the President under 
section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for each fiscal year, the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall include a report describing how the 
Secretary addressed each recommendation of the Initiative contained in 
the most recently submitted report under subsection (e)(1)(B).''.

SEC. 3. REPORT ON ORGANIC ACREAGE ON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE 
              STATIONS.

    Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the 
Agricultural Research Service, shall--
            (1) prepare a report describing the resources needed to 
        increase the research conducted on certified organic 
        agricultural land, as determined by the Administrator of the 
        National Agricultural Statistics Service; and
            (2) submit the report prepared under paragraph (1) to the 
        Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
        the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
        Senate.

SEC. 4. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.

    Section 1672B of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``subsection (e)'' and 
                        inserting ``subsection (f)''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``2023'' and inserting 
                        ``2028'';
                    (B) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (C) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) facilitating the identification and adoption of 
        traditional ecological knowledge in accordance with subsection 
        (e);
            ``(10) developing cultural practices and other allowable 
        alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the 
        National List of approved and prohibited substances under 
        section 2118; and
            ``(11) identifying how organic agriculture can reduce 
        greenhouse gas emissions, build landscape resiliency, and 
        facilitate other related ecosystem services.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Types 
                and Process,'' and inserting ``Term, Types, and 
                Process;'';
                    (B) by inserting ``(3)'' after ``Paragraphs''; and
                    (C) by striking ``(7 U.S.C. 450i)'' and inserting 
                ``(7 U.S.C. 3157(b))'';
            (3) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
    ``(e) Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge.--Any grants made 
under this section for the purposes of facilitating the identification 
and adoption of indigenous traditional ecological knowledge shall be 
subject to the following requirements:
            ``(1) A 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the 
        Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
        301 note; Public Law 103-382)) shall have the role of project 
        director.
            ``(2) The free, prior, and informed consent of any Indian 
        Tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) or 
        Native Hawaiian organizations that possess the applicable 
        indigenous traditional ecological knowledge shall be obtained.
            ``(3) Appropriate attribution to the sources of the 
        applicable indigenous traditional ecological knowledge shall be 
        identified.''; and
            (4) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$25,000,000 for 
                each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023'' and inserting 
                ``$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
                2028''; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (3).

SEC. 5. RESEARCHING THE TRANSITION TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.

    Title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 is amended by inserting after section 1673 (7 U.S.C. 5926) the 
following:

``SEC. 1674. RESEARCHING THE TRANSITION TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL 
              PRODUCTION.

    ``(a) Competitive Specialized Research and Extension Grants 
Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section 
as the `Secretary'), in consultation with the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board, may make 
competitive grants to support research, education, and extension 
activities relating to the transition of nonorganic agricultural 
production systems into organic agricultural production systems for the 
purposes of--
            ``(1) overcoming barriers to transitioning to organic 
        agricultural production;
            ``(2) documenting and understanding the effects of organic 
        agricultural production practices on ecosystem services, 
        including soil health and fertility, greenhouse gas mitigation 
        and sequestration, water management, biodiversity-related 
        services, and pest management; and
            ``(3) developing improved technologies, methods, models, 
        and metrics to document, describe, and optimize ecosystem 
        services of transitioning nonorganic agricultural production 
        systems into organic agricultural production systems.
    ``(b) Grant Term, Types, and Process; Prohibition on 
Construction.--Paragraphs (3), (4), (7), (8), and (11)(B) of subsection 
(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 
U.S.C. 3157(b)) shall apply with respect to the making of grants under 
this section.
    ``(c) Partnerships Encouraged.--Following the completion of a peer 
review process for grant proposals received under this section, the 
Secretary may provide a priority to the grant proposals, found in the 
peer review process to be scientifically meritorious, that--
            ``(1) would involve--
                    ``(A) active partnerships with agricultural 
                producers; or
                    ``(B) the conduct of on-farm or consumer research; 
                and
            ``(2) would involve active partnerships with--
                    ``(A) 1862 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of 
                the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
                Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601));
                    ``(B) 1890 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of 
                the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
                Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601));
                    ``(C) 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 532 
                of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 
                1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103-382)); and
                    ``(D) Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in 
                section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1101a)).
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028.''.

SEC. 6. ORGANIC PRODUCTION AND MARKET DATA INITIATIVES.

    Section 7407 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 5925c) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e);
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Economic Impact Analysis of Organic Farming and 
Certification.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Administrator of the Economic Research Service (referred to in 
        this subsection as the `Secretary'), shall conduct an economic 
        impact analysis of organic agricultural management conducted in 
        accordance with the national organic program established under 
        the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et 
        seq.).
            ``(2) Requirements.--The analysis under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    ``(A) take into consideration information about 
                farming and ranching operations of a variety of sizes, 
                with regional differences, and that have a diversity of 
                production practices and methods; and
                    ``(B) consider the direct and indirect economic 
                impacts of organic agriculture on rural and urban 
                communities, including--
                            ``(i) the vitality of the local economy;
                            ``(ii) the labor market;
                            ``(iii) environmental quality;
                            ``(iv) social dynamics;
                            ``(v) land ownership; and
                            ``(vi) any other information, data, or 
                        analysis that the Secretary determines to be 
                        necessary to make the analysis comprehensive, 
                        accurate, and useful.
            ``(3) Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Streamlining Organic Research Act of 2023, the 
        Secretary shall submit a plan to conduct the analysis under 
        paragraph (1) to--
                    ``(A) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
                Forestry of the Senate; and
                    ``(B) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
                Representatives.
            ``(4) Submission.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
        which the Secretary submits the plan under paragraph (3), the 
        Secretary shall submit to the committees described in that 
        paragraph a report describing the results of the analysis 
        conducted under paragraph (1).''; and
            (3) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) $5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 
                2024 through 2028.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$5,000,000 for 
                each of fiscal years 2008 through 2023'' and inserting 
                ``$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
                2028''.
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