,i #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gaaj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #cj1 #bjah,mr4 ,panetta 7for himself and ,mr4 ,valadao7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,agriculture to provide for prize competitions relating to specialty crop mechanization1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,specialty ,crop ,mechanization ,prize ,challenge of #bjah4 #b4 ,specialty ,crop ,mechanization ,challenges 7a7 ,authority ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall establish a program to be known as ,specialty ,crop ,mechanization ,challenges for carrying out prize competitions described under subsection 7c7 pursuant to section #bd of the ,stevenson-,wydler ,technology ,innovation ,act of #aihj 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #cgai7 relating to the mechanization of specialty crop production4 7b7 ,prize committees 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall assemble a prize committee with respect to each prize competition that shall define the scope and detail of1 and provide the requirements for1 the prize competitions under this section4 ,such committee shall be composed of-- 7,a7 representatives of the specialty crop industry1 with at least a plurality of committee members from sectors of the specialty crop industry that are labor-intensive and lack adequate mechanization technology2 7,b7 members from the ,federal agency1 department1 or office that most appropriately corresponds with the topic of the prize competition2 and 7,c7 representatives of any other entities1 as determined appropriate by the ,secretary1 including ,state and local governments and institutions of higher education4 7#b7 ,incentive for prize competition ,the prize committee for each prize competition shall determine the incentive for the prize competition4 ,in determining the incentive1 the committee shall consider-- 7,a7 a cash prize2 7,b7 access to ,government facilities1 a cooperative research and development agreement1 or other method2 and 7,c7 any other incentive provided for by law4 7#c7 ,judging criteria ,the prize committee for each prize competition shall establish judging criteria for the competition that shall include1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 potential for the solution to become a commercial product or service to further the public good2 7,b7 consideration of how likely the solution is to lead to subsequent research1 development1 or manufacturing in the ,united ,states2 7,c7 the degree to which the solution will alleviate stresses on the agricultural workforce and allow them to work more efficiently2 7,d7 the degree to which the solution will alleviate burdens on agricultural producers1 shippers1 and packers facing labor shortages2 and 7,e7 the degree to which the solution will reduce losses of fresh fruit and vegetables due to lack of available workers to manage and harvest crops4 7#d7 ,consideration ,in carrying out this section1 the committee shall take into consideration the best practices provided for in the challenges and prizes toolkit made publicly available on ,december #ae1 #bjaf1 by the ,general ,services ,administration4 7c7 ,prize competitions ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall provide for prize competitions1 including at least one prize competition on each of the following3 7#a7 ,planting ,solutions to automate or alleviate stresses on the workforce during the planting of specialty crops including1 but not limited to1 the planting of seeds1 seedlings1 and plants being transferred from nurseries or greenhouses to the field4 7#b7 ,crop management ,solutions to automate or alleviate stresses on the workforce when conducting tasks associated with the management of specialty crops including1 but not limited to1 weeding1 pest management1 and the application of crop protectants4 7#c7 ,harvesting ,solutions to automate or alleviate stresses on the workforce related to the harvesting of specialty crops4 7#d7 ,packaging ,solutions to automate or alleviate stresses on the workforce when processing and preparing specialty crops for distribution4 7d7 ,acceptance of funds ,in addition to such sums as may be appropriated or otherwise made available to the ,secretary to award prizes under this section1 the ,secretary may accept funds from other ,federal agencies1 private sector entities1 institutions of higher education1 and ,state and local governments to award prizes under this section4 ,the ,secretary may not give any special consideration relating to the selection of awards under the prize competition to any private sector entity or individual in return for a donation to the ,secretary or prize committee4 7e7 ,eligibility ,notwithstanding section #bd7;g77#c7 of the ,stevenson-,wydler ,technology ,innovation ,act of #aihj 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #cgai7;g77#c771 for a group to be eligible for an award under this section1 at least one member of such group shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the ,united ,states4 7f7 ,completion of prize competitions ,the prize competitions carried out under this section shall be completed not later than the date that is #e years after the program is established under subsection 7a74 7g7 ,,gao report ,not later than the date of completion under subsection 7f71 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report on the impact and the effectiveness of the program carried out under this section4 7h7 ,specialty crop defined ,in this section1 the term specialty crop has the meaning given the term in section #c7a7 of the ,specialty ,crops ,competitiveness ,act of #bjjd 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afba note74 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj to carry out this ,act1 to remain available until expended4