[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 106 (Monday, June 25, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4373-S4374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3077. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill H.R. 2, to provide for the reform and continuation 
of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture 
through fiscal year 2023, and for other purposes; which was ordered to 
lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title II, insert the following:

     SEC. 2__. NITROUS OXIDE EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) fertilizer is a significant cost input in many 
     agricultural operations;
       (2) opportunities exist for agricultural producers--
       (A) to reduce the amount of fertilizer inputs; and
       (B) to increase the efficiency of fertilizer use through 
     the development of more effective fertilizer application 
     protocols that maximize the uptake of fertilizer by crops 
     while maintaining or increasing yields; and

[[Page S4374]]

       (3) improving the application of nitrogen fertilizers at 
     the correct rate, in the correct manner, at the correct time, 
     and in the correct place will provide significant benefits to 
     the environment, including reductions of--
       (A) nitrogen runoff, which will improve water quality; and
       (B) emissions of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas 
     associated with climate change.
       (b) Nitrous Oxide Emissions Reductions.--Chapter 5 of 
     subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
     U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 1240S. NITROUS OXIDE EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS.

       ``(a) Agricultural Research Data.--
       ``(1) Federally funded research data.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Secretary shall make available 
     all relevant data relating to fertilizer application in a 
     format that is--
       ``(i) aggregated so as not to divulge proprietary or 
     confidential business information; and
       ``(ii) searchable and accessible to the public, including, 
     to the maximum extent practicable, all federally funded 
     research data, including data of--

       ``(I) the Department of Agriculture; and
       ``(II) land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in 
     section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
     Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)).

       ``(B) Exceptions.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the 
     release of data or information in a format that may divulge 
     proprietary or confidential business information.
       ``(2) Non-federally funded research data.--The Secretary 
     shall develop incentives to encourage the sharing of non-
     federally funded research data relating to fertilizer 
     application, including data from--
       ``(A) research funded through a State program; and
       ``(B) independent or privately held research.
       ``(b) Nitrogen Uptake Pilot Program.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and carry 
     out a 5-year pilot program for the development and 
     optimization of nitrogen fertilizer application rates, 
     timing, location, and formulation for--
       ``(A) corn;
       ``(B) soybeans;
       ``(C) wheat;
       ``(D) barley;
       ``(E) cotton;
       ``(F) oats;
       ``(G) sorghum;
       ``(H) rice; and
       ``(I) potatoes.
       ``(2) Requirements.--The pilot program described in 
     paragraph (1) shall--
       ``(A) consist of projects in a diverse range of--
       ``(i) geographies;
       ``(ii) soil types;
       ``(iii) drainage conditions;
       ``(iv) tillage practices; and
       ``(v) climatic conditions; and
       ``(B) take into consideration--
       ``(i) the effect of crop rotation;
       ``(ii) the use of cover crops;
       ``(iii) the use of soil amendments; and
       ``(iv) any other factor that the Secretary determines to be 
     appropriate--

       ``(I) to enhance the optimization of fertilizer application 
     practices that reduce the generation of nitrous oxide and 
     leached nitrogen; and
       ``(II) to support high agricultural yields.

       ``(c) Environmental Quality Incentives Program.--The Chief 
     of the Natural Resources Conservation Service shall carry out 
     a nitrous oxide reduction initiative within the environmental 
     quality incentives program established under chapter 4 to 
     foster the adoption and continued use of fertilizer 
     application protocols that reduce the production of nitrous 
     oxide associated with the use of nitrogen fertilizer.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
     $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''.
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