,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ghd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bc1 #bjac ,mr4 ,baucus 7for himself and ,mr4 ,johanns7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to expand agricultural opportunities for military veterans1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,agricultural ,opportunities for ,military ,veterans ,act 4 #b4 ,value-added agricultural market development program grants ,section #bca7;b7 of the ,agricultural ,risk ,protection ,act of #bjjj 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afcb;a7b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#f7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 veteran farmers or ranchers 7as defined in section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e7774 2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#g77;,b71 by striking #bjab and inserting #bjag4 #c4 ,outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and veteran farmers and ranchers 7a7 ,outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and veteran farmers and ranchers ,section #beja of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7 is amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading1 by inserting and veteran farmers and ranchers after ranchers2 7#b7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#b77;,b77i71 by inserting and veteran farmers or ranchers after ranchers2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#d7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,i7 in the heading1 by striking ,fiscal years #bjji through #bjab and inserting ,mandatory funding2 7,,ii7 in clause 7i71 by striking and at the end2 7,,iii7 in clause 7ii71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,,iv7 by adding at the end the following3 7iii7 #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjac through #bjag4 2 and 7ii7 by striking subparagraph 7,b7 and inserting the following3 7,b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjac through #bjag4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7b77#b71 by inserting or veteran farmers and ranchers after socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers2 and 7#d7 in subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 by inserting veteran farmers or ranchers and before members2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b77;,a71 by inserting veteran farmers or ranchers and before members4 7b7 ,definition of veteran farmer or rancher ,section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#g7 ,veteran farmer or rancher ,the term veteran farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who served in the active military1 naval1 or air service1 and who was discharged or released from the service under conditions other than dishonorable4 4 #d4 ,beginning farmer and rancher development program under ,farm ,security and ,rural ,investment ,act of #bjjb ,section #gdje of the ,farm ,security and ,rural ,investment ,act of #bjjb 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ccai;f7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7c77#h7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 beginning farmers and ranchers who are veterans 7as defined in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code74 2 and 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7h7 as subsection 7i72 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7g7 the following3 7h7 ,state grants 7#a7 ,definition of eligible entity ,in this subsection1 the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 an agency of a ,state or political subdivision of a ,state2 7,b7 a national1 ,state1 or regional organization of agricultural producers2 and 7,c7 any other entity determined appropriate by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,grants ,the ,secretary shall use such sums as are necessary of funds made available to carry out this section for each fiscal year under subsection 7i7 to make grants to ,states1 on a competitive basis1 which ,states shall use the grants to make grants to eligible entities to establish and improve farm safety programs at the local level4 2 and 7#d7 in subsection 7i7 7as redesignated by paragraph 7#b77-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 in the heading1 by striking for fiscal years #bjji through #bjab2 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking and at the end2 7iii7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7iv7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 #ag1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjac through #bjag1 to remain available until expended4 2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 in the heading1 by striking for fiscal years #bjji through #bjab2 and 7ii7 by striking #bjab and inserting #bjag2 and 7,c7 by striking paragraph 7#c74 #e4 ,military veterans agricultural liaison 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,a of the ,department of ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act of #aiid is amended by inserting after section #bah 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fiah7 the following3 #bai4 ,military veterans agricultural liaison 7a7 ,authorization ,the ,secretary shall establish in the ,department the position of ,military ,veterans ,agricultural ,liaison4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,military ,veterans ,agricultural ,liaison shall-- 7#a7 provide information to returning veterans about1 and connect returning veterans with1 beginning farmer training and agricultural vocational and rehabilitation programs appropriate to the needs and interests of returning veterans1 including assisting veterans in using ,federal veterans educational benefits for purposes relating to beginning a farming or ranching career2 7#b7 provide information to veterans concerning the availability of and eligibility requirements for participation in agricultural programs1 with particular emphasis on beginning farmer and rancher programs2 7#c7 serving as a resource for assisting veteran farmers and ranchers1 and potential farmers and ranchers1 in applying for participation in agricultural programs2 and 7#d7 advocating on behalf of veterans in interactions with employees of the ,department4 7c7 ,contracts and cooperative agreements ,for purposes of carrying out the duties under subsection 7b71 the ,military ,veterans ,agricultural ,liaison may enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with the research centers of the ,agricultural ,research ,service1 institutions of higher education1 or nonprofit organizations for-- 7#a7 the conduct of regional research on the profitability of small farms2 7#b7 the development of educational materials2 7#c7 the conduct of workshops1 courses1 and certified vocational training2 7#d7 the conduct of mentoring activities2 or 7#e7 the provision of internship opportunities4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,section #bif7;b7 of the ,department of ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act of #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gjad7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#f77;,c71 by striking the or at the end2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#g71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 or2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#h7 the authority of the ,secretary to establish in the ,department the position of ,military ,veterans ,agricultural ,liaison in accordance with section #bai4 4 #f4 ,conservation reserve program transition incentive program 7a7 ,in general ,section #abce7;f7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chce7;f77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a7 by inserting 1 a veteran farmer or rancher 7as defined in section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e7771 before or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj for the period of fiscal years #bjac through #bjag4 4 #g4 ,environmental quality incentives program ,section #abdj;,b7d77#d77;,a7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#b7;d77#d77;,a77 is amended in the matter preceding clause 7i7 by inserting 1 a veteran farmer or rancher 7as defined in section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e7771 before or a beginning farmer or rancher4 #h4 ,reservation of funds to provide assistance to certain farmers or ranchers for conservation access ,section #abda7;g7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chda7;g77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking #bjab and inserting #bjag2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 ,preference ,in providing assistance under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall give preference to a veteran farmer or rancher 7as defined in section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e777 that qualifies under subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of paragraph 7#a74 4 #i4 ,administrative requirements for conservation programs ,section #abdd7;a77#b7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chdd7;a77#b77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,e7 ,veteran farmers or ranchers 7as defined in section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e7774 4