S. 2116 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2116 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 12, 2014 Mr. Heinrich (for himself and Mr. Udall of New Mexico) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To direct the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with Indian tribes, to make grants, competitive grants, and special research grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements and other contracting instruments with, eligible entities to conduct research and education and training programs to protect and preserve Native American seeds, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Native American Seeds Protection Act of 2014. 2. Research grants for purposes of protection and preservation of Native American seeds (a) In general Subtitle C 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: 1419. Research grants for purposes of protection and preservation of Native American seeds (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) 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)); or (B) an Indian tribe. (2) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). (3) Qualified research entity The term qualified research entity means an entity with a demonstrated capacity and infrastructure necessary to carry out agricultural research projects, including— (A) a State agricultural experiment station; (B) a college or university (including a 1994 Institution); (C) another research institution or organization; (D) a private organization; (E) a corporation; or (F) an individual. (b) Authority Consistent with this section, the Secretary may make grants (including competitive grants and special research grants) to, and enter into cooperative agreements and other contracting instruments with, eligible entities to conduct research and education and training programs that— (1) are objective, operationally independent, and external to the Federal Government; and (2) concern the purity of Native American seeds (as defined by the Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribes). (c) Cooperation required Grant applications submitted by an eligible entity under this section shall certify that the research to be conducted will be performed under a cooperative agreement with at least 1 other qualified research entity. (d) Activities Under this section, funding may be provided to conduct— (1) research to assess the direct and indirect impacts of— (A) public law and policies on traditional ways of life and cultural practices relating to the harvesting and cultivating of Native American seeds; and (B) contaminants that compromise the integrity and purity of Native American seeds; and (2) education and training programs on— (A) the methods necessary to conduct the research described in paragraph (1); and (B) the best methods to continuously test, monitor, and otherwise protect the purity of Native American seeds. (e) Report Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and each year thereafter, the Secretary 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 contains— (1) a description of the results of any research conducted under this section; (2) a description of the effectiveness of any education and training programs conducted under this section in enabling eligible entities to ensure the purity of Native American seeds; and (3) any recommendations of the Secretary to improve the effectiveness of the education and training programs. . (b) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue regulations to carry out section 1419 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (as added by subsection (a)), including regulations to define the term Native American seed for purposes of that section. 3. Developing seed storage facilities to preserve and protect Native American seeds Section 306(a)(19)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(19)(A)) is amended— (1) by striking ,, and inserting a comma; and (2) by inserting , including the expansion, construction, and infrastructure costs associated with developing seed storage facilities that are used to protect and preserve Native American seeds (as defined by the Secretary pursuant to section 1419 of the National Agricultural Research, Education, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977) before the period at the end.