,i #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fejj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bd1 #bjah,mr4 ,walz 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,denham1 ,ms4 ,pingree1 ,mr4 ,panetta1 ,mr4 ,bost1 ,mr4 ,lawson of ,florida1 ,ms4 ,kuster of ,new ,hampshire1 ,mr4 ,o',rourke1 ,ms4 ,esty of ,connecticut1 ,mr4 ,kind1 ,mr4 ,sean ,patrick ,maloney of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,kilmer1 ,mr4 ,mc,govern1 ,mr4 ,ryan of ,ohio1 ,mr4 ,gonzalez of ,texas1 and ,mr4 ,carbajal7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to expand the availability of programs of the ,department of ,agriculture to veteran farmers and ranchers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veteran ,empowerment and ,training to ,facilitate ,agricultural ,revitalization and ,mobilization ,act of #bjah or the ,,vet-#b-;,,farm ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,availability of ,department of ,agriculture programs for veteran farmers and ranchers 7a7 ,definition of veteran farmer or rancher ,section #beja7;e77#g7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e77#g77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking or at the end2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 or2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 is a veteran 7as defined in section #aja of that title7 who has first obtained status as a veteran 7as so defined7 during the most recent #aj-year period4 4 7b7 ,federal crop insurance 7#a7 ,definition of veteran farmer or rancher ,section #ejb7;b7 of the ,federal ,crop ,insurance ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aejb7;b77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#ab7 ,veteran farmer or rancher ,the term veteran farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who-- 7,a7 has served in the ,armed ,forces 7as defined in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code72 and 7,b7 7i7 has not operated a farm or ranch2 7ii7 has operated a farm or ranch for not more than #aj years2 or 7iii7 is a veteran 7as defined in section #aja of that title7 who has first obtained status as a veteran 7as so defined7 during the most recent #e-year period4 4 7#b7 ,crop insurance ,section #ejh of the ,federal ,crop ,insurance ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aejh7 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7b77#e77;,e71 by inserting 1 and veteran farmers or ranchers before the period at the end2 7,b7 in subsection 7e77#h7-- 7i7 in the paragraph heading1 by inserting and veteran after beginning2 and 7ii7 by inserting or veteran farmer or rancher after beginning farmer or rancher each place it appears2 and 7,c7 in subsection 7g7-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#b77;,b77iii71 in the matter preceding subclause 7,i71 by inserting or veteran farmer or rancher after beginning farmer or rancher each place it appears2 and 7ii7 in paragraph 7#d77;,b77ii77,,ii71 by inserting and veteran farmers or ranchers after beginning farmers or ranchers4 7#c7 ,education and risk management assistance ,section #ebd7;a77#d7 of the ,federal ,crop ,insurance ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aebd7;a77#d77 is amended-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,d77ii71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,e71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,f7 veteran farmers or ranchers4 4 7c7 ,down payment loan program ,section #caj;,e of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aice7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#a71 by striking qualified beginning farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and inserting eligible farmers or ranchers2 7#b7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#b77;,a71 by striking recipients of the loans and inserting farmers or ranchers2 7,b7 by striking paragraph 7#c7 and inserting the following3 7#c7 encourage retiring farmers and ranchers to assist in the sale of their farms and ranches to eligible farmers or ranchers by providing seller financing2 2 and 7,c7 in paragraph 7#d71 by striking for beginning farmers or ranchers or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and inserting the following3 8for-- 7,a7 beginning farmers or ranchers2 7,b7 socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers1 as defined in section #cee7;e72 or 7,c7 veteran farmers or ranchers1 as defined in section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e77 2 and 7,d7 in paragraph 7#e71 by striking a qualified beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher and inserting an eligible farmer or rancher2 and 7#c7 by striking subsection 7e7 and inserting the following3 7e7 ,definition of eligible farmer or rancher ,in this section1 the term eligible farmer or rancher means-- 7#a7 a qualified beginning farmer or rancher2 7#b7 a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher1 as defined in section #cee7;e72 and 7#c7 a veteran farmer or rancher1 as defined in section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e774 4 7d7 ,interest rate reduction program ,section #cea7;e77#b77;,b7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aiii7;e77#b77;,b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the subparagraph heading1 by inserting and veteran after ,beginning2 7#b7 in clause 7i71 by inserting or veteran farmers and ranchers 7as defined in section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e777 before the period at the end2 and 7#c7 in clause 7ii71 by striking beginning4 7e7 ,national food safety training1 education1 extension1 outreach1 and technical assistance program ,section #dje7;c7 of the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gfbe7;c77 is amended by inserting 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;e7771 after socially disadvantaged farmers14 7f7 ,administration and operation of noninsured crop assistance program ,section #aif of the ,federal ,agriculture ,improvement and ,reform ,act of #aiif 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gccc7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7k77#b71 by inserting 1 or 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 before the period at the end2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7l77#d7-- 7,a7 in the paragraph heading1 by inserting veteran1 before and socially2 and 7,b7 by inserting and 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;e777 before in exchange4 7g7 ,funding for transition option for certain farmers or ranchers ,section #abda7;a77#a77;,b7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chda7;a77#a77;,b77 is amended by striking beginning farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and inserting covered farmers or ranchers1 as defined in section #abce7;f77#a74 7h7 ,supplemental agricultural disaster assistance 7#a7 ,definition of covered producer ,section #aeja7;a7 of the ,agricultural ,act of #bjad 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ijha7;a77 is amended-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d7 as paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#e71 respectively2 and 7,b7 by inserting before paragraph 7#b7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7#a7 ,covered producer ,the term covered producer means an eligible producer on a farm that is-- 7,a7 as determined by the ,secretary-- 7i7 a beginning farmer or rancher2 7ii7 a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher2 or 7iii7 a limited resource farmer or rancher2 or 7,b7 a veteran farmer or rancher1 as defined in section #beja7;e7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;e774 4 7#b7 ,emergency assistance for livestock1 honey bees1 and farm-raised fish ,section #aeja7;d7 of the ,agricultural ,act of #bjad 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ijha7;d77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 ,payment rate for covered producers ,in the case of a covered producer that is eligible to receive assistance under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall provide reimbursement of #ij percent of the cost of losses described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b74 4 #c4 ,agricultural employment available to veterans 7a7 ,in general ,section #bai of the ,department of ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act of #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fiai7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#d71 by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following new paragraphs3 7#e7 provide information to veterans concerning the availability of1 and eligibility requirements for1 positions identified within the ,department of ,agriculture that are available to employ or train veterans2 7#f7 consult with the ,secretary of ,defense1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 and the ,administrator of the ,small ,business ,administration with respect to carrying out activities that assist veterans with agriculture-related employment2 and 7#g7 establish and periodically update the website described in subsection 7d74 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new subsections3 7d7 ,website required 7#a7 ,in general ,the website required under subsection 7b77#g7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,positions identified within the ,department of ,agriculture that are available to veterans for apprenticeships4 7,b7 ,apprenticeships1 programs of training on the job1 and programs of education that are approved for purposes of chapter #cf of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7,c7 ,employment skills training programs for members of the ,armed ,forces carried out pursuant to section #aadc7;e7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code4 7,d7 ,information designed to assist businesses1 nonprofit entities1 educational institutions1 and farmers interested in developing apprenticeships1 on-the-job training1 educational1 or entrepreneurial programs for veterans in navigating the process of having a program approved by a ,state approving agency for purposes of chapter #cf of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 ,such information shall include each of the following3 7i7 ,contact information for relevant offices in the ,department of ,defense1 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 ,department of ,labor1 and ,small ,business ,administration4 7ii7 ,basic requirements for approval by each ,state approving agency4 7iii7 ,recommendations with respect to training and coursework to be used during apprenticeships or on-the-job training that will enable a veteran to be eligible for agricultural programs4 7iv7 ,examples of successful programs and curriculums that have been approved for purposes of chapter #cf of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code 7with consent of the organization and without any personally identifiable information74 7#b7 ,review of website 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #e years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph1 and once every #e years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall conduct a study to determine if the website required under subsection 7b77#g7 is effective in providing veterans the information required under paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,ineffective website ,if the ,secretary determines that the website is not effective under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7i7 notify the agriculture and veterans committees of such determination2 and 7ii7 not earlier than #ahj days after the date on which the ,secretary provides notice under clause 7i71 terminate the website4 7,c7 ,agriculture and veterans committees defined ,in this paragraph1 the term agriculture and veterans committees means-- 7i7 the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives2 7ii7 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate2 7iii7 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7iv7 the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate4 7e7 ,consultation required ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall consult with organizations that serve veterans4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #bif7;b7 of the ,department of ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act of #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gjad7;b77 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#i7 ,the authority of the ,secretary to carry out amendments made to this title by the ,veteran ,empowerment and ,training to ,facilitate ,agricultural ,revitalization and ,mobilization ,act of #bjah4 4 #d4 ,report on veterans employed in agriculture 7a7 ,report required ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall provide a report to the agriculture and veterans committees that includes the following3 7#a7 ,positions identified within the ,department of ,agriculture that are1 on the date of such report1 available for apprenticeships by service members or veterans4 7#b7 ,a summary of the information on such positions that has been provided to the ,department of ,defense1 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and the ,department of ,labor4 7#c7 ,a summary of measures taken to partner with the ,department of ,defense to identify and develop potential career skills programs for service members who transition out of the armed services4 7#d7 ,the information the ,department of ,agriculture is disseminating to agricultural entities to help such entities contact the ,department of ,defense to establish career skills programs4 7#e7 ,the information the ,department of ,agriculture has provided to the ,department of ,defense1 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 ,small ,business ,administration1 and the ,department of ,labor on available apprenticeships or on-the-job training available to veterans4 7#f7 ,information on how agricultural entities can contact the ,department of ,agriculture for technical assistance in establishing ,department of ,labor approved apprenticeships and ,department of ,defense approved on-the-job training opportunities4 7b7 ,agriculture and veterans committees defined ,in this section1 the term agriculture and veterans committees has the meaning given the term in subsection 7d77#b77;,c7 of section #bai of the ,department of ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act of #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fiai71 as added by this ,act4