,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #fgh  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april #i1 #bjac ,mr4  
,casey 7= himself & ,mr4 ,h>k97         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry  ,a  
,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,food1 ,cons]vation1 
& ,en]gy ,act ( #bjjh to e/abli% a      
program to provide loans = local f>ms1  
ran*es1 & m>ket g>d5s to improve public 
heal? & nutrition1 r$uce en]gy          
consumption1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4     
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,gr[+ ,opportunities = ,agriculture &   
,respond+ to ,m>kets ,act ( #bjac4  #b4 
,local f>m bus9ess & m>ket g>d5         
competitive loan program ,subtitle ,d ( 
title ,x ( ! ,food1 ,cons]vation1 &     
,en]gy ,act ( #bjjh is am5d$ by add+    
aft] section #ajdjd 7,public ,law       
#aaj-bdf2 #abb ,/at4 #baaa7 ! foll[+3   
#ajdje4 ,local f>m bus9ess & m>ket g>d5 
competitive loan program  7a7           
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3  7#a7       

,agricultural commodity ,! t]m          
agricultural commodity has ! mean+ giv5 
! t]m 9 section #ajb ( ! ,agricultural  
,trade ,act ( #aigh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4       
#efjb74  7#b7 ,eligible l5d+ entity ,!  
t]m eligible l5d+ entity means a        
gov]nm5t ag5cy1 nonpr(it organization1  
or any o!r entity t ! ,secret>y         
designates to f9ance & facilitate !     
developm5t ( a local f>m bus9ess project
 or m>ket g>d5 project4  7#c7 ,eligible 
produc] ,! t]m eligible produc] means an
 individual or gr\p ( individuals :o    
c>ry out a local f>m bus9ess project or 
m>ket g>d5 project4  7#d7 ,food des]t ,!
 t]m food des]t has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9
 section #gebg7;a74  7#e7 ,local f>m    
bus9ess project ,! t]m local f>m bus9ess
 project means a project on a f>m or    
ran* t--  7,a7 is = ! production ( an   
agricultural commodity = local m>kets 9 
! local s]vice area2 &  7,b7 is locat$  
on #a or m prop]ty lots1 ! cumulative   
acreage ( :i* %all be m ?an #a acre4    
7#f7 ,local s]vice area ,! t]m local    

s]vice area means an area consi/+ ( a   
c]ta9 mile radius 7z det]m9$ by !       
,secret>y7 f ! physical location (      
production by an eligible local f>m     
bus9ess or m>ket g>d5 project4  7#g7    
,m>ket g>d5 project ,! t]m m>ket g>d5   
project means a project t--  7,a7 is = !
 production ( an agricultural commodity 
= local m>kets 9 ! local s]vice area2 & 
7,b7 is locat$ on #a or m prop]ty lots  
7reg>dless ( ! population d5sity ( !    
area 9 :i* ! prop]ty lots are locat$71 !
 cumulative acreage ( :i* %all be m ?an 
acre4  7#h7 ,revolv+ loan fund ,! t]m   
revolv+ loan fund means a revolv+ loan  
fund e/abli%$ by an eligible l5d+ entity
 z describ$ 9 subsection 7c74  7#i7     
,socially disadvantag$ f>m] or ran*] ,! 
t]m socially disadvantag$ f>m] or ran*] 
has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section        
#cee7;e7 ( ! ,consolidat$ ,f>m & ,rural 
,developm5t ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4          
#bjjc7;e774  7#aj7 ,specialty crop ,!   
t]m specialty crop has ! mean+ giv5 !   
t]m 9 section #c ( ! ,specialty ,crops  

,competitiv5ess ,act ( #bjjd 7#g        
,u4,s4,c4 #afba note2 ,public ,law      
#ajh-dfe74  7#aa7 ,su/a9able agriculture
 ,! t]m su/a9able agriculture has !     
mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #adjd ( !    
,national ,agricultural ,rese>*1        
,ext5sion1 & ,tea*+ ,policy ,act ( #aigg
 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cajc74  7b7 ,competitive
 loan program = eligible l5d+ entities  
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,to support new           
entrepr5eur%ip & job creation1 !        
,secret>y %all e/abli% a local f>m      
bus9ess & m>ket g>d5 competitive loan   
program "u :i* ! ,secret>y %all make    
available to eligible l5d+ entities     
loans to develop revolv+ loan funds to  
assi/--  7,a7 eligible produc]s 9       
e/abli%+ local f>m bus9ess projects or  
m>ket g>d5 projects t w locally produce 
fre% foods2 &  7,b7 local f>m bus9ess   
projects & m>ket g>d5 projects to create
 local employm5t opportunities by--  7i7
 increas+ f>m & g>d5 income by connect+ 
produc]s & consum]s2  7ii7 creat+ m     
reliable local food sy/ems2  7iii7      

div]sify+ food production2  7iv7        
increas+ consum] access to fre%1 local  
heal?ful foods produc$ by local f>ms1   
ran*es1 & m>ket g>d5s 9 urban1 suburban1
 or rural areas2  7v7 support+ nutrition
 education t incorporates p>ticipation (
 s*ool *ildr5 9 f>m- & g>d5-bas$        
agricultural education activities2 &    
7vi7 pres]v+ f>ml&4  7#b7 ,eligibility  
,to be eligible to receive a loan "u !  
program e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 an   
eligible l5d+ entity %all submit to !   
,secret>y an application at su* "t1 9   
su* =m1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z !     
,secret>y may require4  7#c7 ,selection 
crit]ia  7,a7 ,approval ,n lat] ?an #a  
ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section
 & 9 accordance ) ?is p>agraph1 !       
,secret>y %all1 on a competitive basis1 
beg9 assess+ & approv+ su* applications 
receiv$ "u p>agraph 7#b7 z ! ,secret>y  
consid]s appropriate4  7,b7 ,crit]ia ,9 
consid]+ a loan application receiv$ "u  
p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,secret>y %all--  7i7  
evaluate ! ext5t to :i* ! application   

demon/rates ! ability ( ! eligible l5d+ 
entity--  7,i7 to manage1 m>ket1 &      
adm9i/] a revolv+ loan fund2  7,,ii7 to 
assi/ local eligible produc]s to        
successfully meet local s]vice area     
opportunities2  7,,iii7 to "w ) p>tn]s  
to provide te*nical support to eligible 
local f>m bus9ess projects & m>ket g>d5 
projects2  7,,iv7 to recruit1 educate1 &
 assi/ local produc]s to advance local  
f>m+ & ran*+ opportunities t meet local 
s]vice area ne$s2 &  7,v7 subject to    
p>agraph 7#e71 to provide mat*+ funds 9 
! =m ( ca% or 9-k9d s]vices to prop]ly  
implem5t & manage ! revolv+ loan fund2  
7ii7 assess--  7,i7 ! numb] & type (    
local f>m bus9ess projects & m>ket g>d5 
projects to be affect$ by local f>m     
bus9ess project loan fund+2  7,,ii7 !   
numb] ( new jobs & eligible local f>m   
bus9ess projects & m>ket g>d5 projects  
to be creat$ by ! revolv+ loan fund2    
7,,iii7 ! ability ( an eligible local   
f>m bus9ess project or m>ket g>d5       
project--  7aa7 to pres]ve f>ml& ?r\gh  

economically & environm5tally su/a9able 
agriculture practices 7z det]m9$ by !   
,secret>y72 &  7bb7 to s]ve s*ools &    
in/itutions ) a high proportion ( /ud5ts
 :o are eligible = free or r$uc$ price  
lun*es "u ! ,ri*>d ,b4 ,russell         
,national ,s*ool ,lun* ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #agea et seq472  7,,iv7 !     
degree to :i* an eligible local f>m     
bus9ess project or m>ket g>d5 project-- 
7aa7 incorporates exp]i5tial nutrition  
education2  7bb7 demon/rates ! pot5tial 
positive economic impact = ! local      
economy2  7cc7 demon/rates              
environm5tally su/a9able agriculture    
practices2 &  7dd7 demon/rates a        
collaboration betwe5 s*ools or          
educational in/itutions1 nongov]nm5tal  
organizations1 produc] gr\ps1 & o!r     
community & bus9ess p>tn]s2 &  7,v7 !   
m>ket opportunity = eligible local f>m  
bus9ess projects or m>ket g>d5 projects 
to sell products 9 ! local community2 & 
7iii7 consid] any o!r factors t !       
,secret>y det]m9es to be appropriate4   

7,c7 ,regional balance ,to ! maximum    
ext5t practicable1 9 aw>d+ loans "u ?is 
section1 ! ,secret>y %all ensure t loan 
recipi5ts--  7i7 are geographically     
div]se2  7ii7 s]ve cli5ts t>get$ by !   
loan program1 includ+ socially          
disadvantag$ f>m]s or ran*]s2  7iii7    
s]ve cli5ts locat$ 9 areas ) a v>iety ( 
population d5sities1 includ+ rural1     
suburban1 urban1 & tribal areas2 &  7iv7
 id5tify & s]ve food des]ts )9 ! local  
s]vice area4  7,d7 ,priority  7i7 ,9    
g5]al ,9 consid]+ loan applications     
receiv$ "u p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,secret>y   
%all give priority to applications t    
demon/rate ! ability & will+ness ( !    
eligible l5d+ entity--  7,i7 to s]ve    
cli5ts t>get$ by ! program1 includ+1 z  
appropriate1 socially disadvantag$ f>m]s
 or ran*]s2  7,,ii7 to assi/ ) !        
f9ancial managem5t aspects ( specialty  
crop f>m+ & o!r types ( local           
agricultural projects2 &  7,,iii7 to    
address ! nutritional ne$s ( an und]s]v$
 area1 z det]m9$ 9 accordance ) clause  

7ii74  7ii7 ,und]s]v$ areas ,9 det]m9+  
:e!r an area is an und]s]v$ area1 !     
,secret>y %all consid]--  7,i7          
population d5sity2  7,,ii7 bel[-av]age  
sup]m>ket d5sity or sales2  7,,iii7 !   
rate ( own]%ip ( motor vehicles2 &      
7,,iv7 geographical or physical b>ri]s1 
su* z highways1 m\nta9s1 major p>ks1 or 
bodies ( wat]4  7#d7 ,loan t]ms =       
eligible l5d+ entities  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,=
 ea* fiscal ye> = :i* ! ,secret>y makes 
a loan to an eligible l5d+ entity "u ?is
 subsection1 ! loan %all--  7i7 be 9 an 
am\nt t is n less ?an #bjj1jjj & n m ?an
 #a1jjj1jjj2 &  7ii7 be us$ by !        
eligible l5d+ entity to e/abli% a       
revolv+ loan fund to provide loans =    
local f>m bus9ess projects or m>ket g>d5
 projects4  7,b7 ,t]m ,! t]m ( a loan "u
 ?is subsection %all n exce$ #bj ye>s f 
! date on :i* ! loan is f9aliz$4  7,c7  
,loan f9anc+ t]ms ,9 mak+ loans to      
eligible l5d+ entities "u ?is           
subsection1 ! ,secret>y %all--  7i7 set 
! rate ( int]e/ at n m ?an #b p]c5t p]  

ye>2 &  7ii7 ensure t no paym5ts are due
 on ! loan dur+ ! fir/ #b ye>s ( ! loan4
  7#e7 ,mat*+ funds ,! ,secret>y may n  
require an eligible l5d+ entity t       
receives a loan "u ?is subsection to    
provide1 f non-,f$]al s\rces1 9 ca% or  
9-k9d1 ! co/ ( c>ry+ out activities "u !
 loan4  7#f7 ,adm9i/rative exp5ses  7,a7
 ,9 g5]al ,ea* eligible l5d+ entity t   
receives a loan "u ?is subsection %all  
be eligible additionally to receive a   
#a-"t grant = purposes describ$ 9       
subp>agraph 7,b7 9 an am\nt t is n m ?an
 ! less] (--  7i7 #aj p]c5t ( ! total   
am\nt ( ! loan receiv$ by ! eligible    
l5d+ entity2 or  7ii7 #ej1jjj4  7,b7    
,use ( grant funds ,grant funds receiv$ 
"u subp>agraph 7,a7 may be us$ by !     
eligible l5d+ entity only to pay        
managem5t & te*nical support co/s       
associat$ ) ! loan4  7,c7 ,int]e/ rate  
,if an eligible l5d+ entity receives a  
grant "u subp>agraph 7,a71 ! eligible   
l5d+ entity may n set ! int]e/ rate (   
loans made by ! eligible l5d+ entity to 

local f>m bus9ess projects or m>ket g>d5
 projects at m ?an #c p]c5t p] ye>4     
7#g7 ,progress reports  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n
 lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! la/ day ( ea* 
fiscal ye>1 ea* eligible l5d+ entity t  
has a loan "u ?is subsection %all submit
 to ! ,secret>y a report t includes--   
7i7 an evaluation ( ! progress ( !      
revolv+ loan fund c>ri$ out by !        
eligible l5d+ entity2  7ii7 a           
description ( ! revolv+ loan fund1      
includ+ in=mation on all loans made to  
local f>m bus9ess projects or m>ket g>d5
 projects2  7iii7 a /atus update = !    
local f>m bus9ess projects & m>ket g>d5 
projects fund$ by ! revolv+ loan fund t 
describes--  7,i7 ! am\nt ( food        
produc$2  7,,ii7 ! am\nt ( rev5ue       
g5]at$2 &  7,,iii7 ! numb] ( new &      
reta9$ jobs2 &  7iv7 su* o!r in=mation z
 ! ,secret>y may require4  7,b7 ,reports
 by ! ,secret>y ,n lat] ?an #c ye>s aft]
 ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section1 !     
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committee on
 ,agriculture ( ! ,h\se (               

,repres5tatives & ! ,committee on       
,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry ( !  
,s5ate a report t describes ! results & 
f9d+s ( ! loan program c>ri$ out "u ?is 
subsection4  7#h7 ,annual review ,!     
,secret>y %all conduct an annual review 
( ! f9ancial records ( ea* eligible l5d+
 entity t receives fund+ "u ?is         
subsection--  7,a7 to assess ! f9ancial 
s\ndness ( ! eligible l5d+ entity2 &    
7,b7 to det]m9e ! effective use ( loan &
 grant funds made available to !        
eligible l5d+ entity "u ?is subsection4 
7c7 ,revolv+ loan fund  7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t
 & purpose ,ea* eligible l5d+ entity t  
receives a loan "u subsection 7b7 %all  
use ! funds to e/abli% a revolv+ loan   
fund to provide loans to eligible       
produc]s 9 ! local s]vice area4  7#b7   
,eligible activities ,loans made by an  
eligible l5d+ entity "u ?is subsection  
%all be us$ by ! eligible produc] to    
c>ry out eligible activities 9 ! local  
s]vice area1 includ+--  7,a7 to c>ry out
 production projects = value-add$ food  

products2  7,b7 to provide work+ capital
 = g5]al op]ational co/s ( ! local f>m  
bus9ess project or m>ket g>d5 project2  
7,c7 to pur*ase project-relat$ equipm5t2
  7,d7 to pur*ase se$s1 plants1 & fruit 
or nut trees2  7,e7 to pur*ase live/ock1
 p\ltry1 & bre$+ /ock2  7,f7 to con/ruct
 & ma9ta9 irrigation sy/ems2  7,g7 to   
con/ruct build+s 7includ+ b>ns1 %$s1    
gre5h\ses1 & dry & cold /orage %$s7     
necess>y to support production2  7,h7 to
 lease1 lease to pur*ase1 or directly   
pur*ase f>ml& or make a d[n paym5t on an
 accept$ pur*ase (f] = f>ml&2 or  7,i7  
to c>ry out any o!r activity t !        
,secret>y det]m9es to be 9 accordance ) 
?is section4  7#c7 ,loan conditions     
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,to be eligible to receive
 a loan "u ?is section f an eligible    
l5d+ entity1 an eligible produc] %all-- 
7i7 supply a m9imum level ( support ( ! 
co/ ( ! local f>m bus9ess project1 m>ket
 g>d5 project1 or in/itution co/s1 z    
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y2 &  7ii7 submit  
to ! eligible l5d+ entity--  7,i7       

docum5tation (1 z appropriate--  7aa7 a 
long-t]m l& lease contract grant+ ! "r  
to p]=m local production agriculture2   
7bb7 a build+ lease2 or  7cc7 a de$ (   
prop]ty own]%ip2 &  7,,ii7 a cons]vation
 plan & a s\nd bus9ess plan t is likely 
to result 9 a pr(itable bus9ess )       
su/a9able employm5t = ! eligible produc]
 & any employees4  7,b7 ,secret>ial     
approval2 gu>antee  7i7 ,approval ,be=e 
an eligible l5d+ entity may make a loan 
or package ( loans to an eligible       
produc] "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all
 approve ! loan or package ( loans 9    
accordance ) ! requirem5ts ( ?is        
section4  7ii7 ,loan gu>antee ,!        
,secret>y %all gu>antee n m ?an #he     
p]c5t ( ! pr9cipal & int]e/ on ea* loan 
approv$ "u clause 7i74  7#d7 ,priority  
,9 mak+ loans "u ?is subsection1 !      
eligible l5d+ entity %all give priority 
to eligible produc]s t are op]at$ by1 or
 t support--  7,a7 qualifi$ beg9n+ f>m]s
 or ran*]s 7z def9$ 9 section #cdc7;a7 (
 ! ,consolidat$ ,f>m & ,rural           

,developm5t ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4          
#aiia7;a777 & socially disadvantag$     
f>m]s or ran*]s2  7,b7 exi/+ eligible   
produc]s1 :e!r own]s or t5ants1 :o use  
loan funds to conv]t to agricultural    
production sy/ems approv$ by !          
,secret>y2  7,c7 eligible produc]s :o   
use loan funds to build cons]vation     
/ructures or c>ry out cons]vation       
practices2  7,d7 eligible produc]s :o w 
supply fre% & locally produc$ food to   
und]s]v$ communities2 &  7,e7 exi/+     
eligible produc]s ( agriculture         
commodities :o want to div]sify f>m1    
ran*1 or m>ket g>d5 production & income4
  7#e7 ,loan t]ms = eligible produc]s   
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,a loan made by an        
eligible l5d+ entity to an eligible     
produc] "u ?is subsection %all be 9 an  
am\nt t is--  7i7 9 ! case ( a local f>m
 bus9ess project1 n less ?an #e1jjj & n 
m ?an #ajj1jjj2 &  7ii7 9 ! case ( a    
m>ket g>d5 project1 n less ?an #c1jjj & 
n m ?an #ej1jjj4  7,b7 ,t]m ,! t]m ( a  
loan "u ?is subsection %all n exce$--   

7i7 9 ! case ( a loan 9 an am\nt t is n 
m ?an #ce1jjj1 #ab ye>s f ! date on :i* 
! loan is f9aliz$2 &  7ii7 9 ! case (   
all o!r loans1 #bj ye>s f ! date on :i* 
! loan is f9aliz$4  7,c7 ,loan f9anc+   
t]ms ,9 mak+ loans "u ?is subsection1 an
 eligible l5d+ entity %all--  7i7 set ! 
rate ( int]e/ at n m ?an #c p]c5t p]    
ye>2  7ii7 ensure t no paym5ts are due  
on ! loan dur+ ! fir/ #i mon?s ( ! loan2
 &  7iii7 ensure t only int]e/ is due on
 ! loan dur+ ! p]iod beg9n+ on ! la/ day
 ( ! p]iod describ$ 9 clause 7ii7 & end+
 #bd mon?s aft] ! issuance ( ! loan4    
7,d7 ,loan =giv5ess ,if an eligible     
produc] has receiv$ a loan "u ?is       
section to c>ry out a local f>m bus9ess 
project or m>ket g>d5 project1 & aft] #c
 ye>s ! ,secret>y det]m9es t ! project  
is successful1 ! ,secret>y may (f] to   
=give--  7i7 up to #aj p]c5t ( ! out/&+ 
am\nt ( ! loan2 &  7ii7 9 ! case ( an   
eligible produc] support+ su/a9able     
agriculture practices1 up to #bj p]c5t (
 ! out/&+ am\nt ( ! loan4  7d7          

,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re are 
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to !         
,secret>y = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjad     
?r\gh #bjbd--  7#a7 #bj1jjj1jjj to      
provide loans & grants "u subsection    
7b72 &  7#b7 #a1jjj1jjj = ! adm9i/rative
 co/s ( c>ry+ out ?is section4  4