,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gdhb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #b1 #bjbj,mr4 ,harder of ,california 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,cox of ,california1 ,mr4 ,costa1 ,mr4 ,sean ,patrick ,maloney of ,new ,york1 and ,mr4 ,panetta7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,agriculture to carry out a program to award grants to eligible entities to carry out projects that further agricultural resiliency and modernization1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,future of ,agricultural ,resiliency ,and ,modernization ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the evidence for human-induced climate change is undeniable and our agricultural communities are increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate change4 7#b7 ,the volatility of weather patterns1 ranging from more frequent and severe droughts1 floods1 and wildfires can negatively impact agricultural productivity4 7#c7 ,rural communities1 that often lack federal and state resources1 are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change1 such as revenue losses1 hours lost at work1 and infrastructure damages4 7#d7 ,climate resilient practices and technologies are needed to help save ,federal1 ,state1 and local taxpayers money4 ,these technologies include manure resource recovery systems1 which recover the nutrients contained in organic matter from their source help protect water quality4 7#e7 ,the need for measures that promote energy and water use efficiency1 conservation1 and renewable energy will greatly reduce the adverse impacts of climate change4 7#f7 ,many farmers and agricultural producers are currently utilizing environmentally beneficial practices that also better their production costs4 7#g7 ,excessive heat exposure poses a direct threat to farm workers and the economy4 ,climate change increases this danger1 as #ah of the #ai hottest years on record have occurred since #bjja4 ,rising temperatures are projected to cause an increase in heat-related workplace injuries1 illnesses1 loss in labor capacity1 and decreased productivity4 ,in light of these findings1 the ,federal government has an obligation to protect farmworkers1 outdoor workers1 and employers in the ,united ,states from climate change4 7#h7 ,the ,department of ,agriculture should use research and development programs to make dairy digesters more affordable while mitigating environmental effects4 ,further1 the ,department should provide technical assistance1 community support1 and financial incentives and grants for farmers to partner together to build cooperative digester models4 ,the ,department should use cross-agency collaborative models and utilize existing ,federal programs1 such as the ,environmental ,protection ,agency's ,ag,s,t,a,r program to increase farmer access and engagement in these efforts4 7#i7 ,the ,department should engage in partnerships with other ,federal agencies to control invasive species1 in a manner that protects the environment1 infrastructure1 and agricultural lands in the ,united ,states4 7#aj7 ,federal assistance is needed to help farming practices become more resilient and sustainable for the long-term4 #c4 ,future of ,agricultural ,resiliency and ,modernization fund 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7referred to in this ,act as the ,secretary7 shall carry out a program to award grants to eligible entities to carry out projects for a qualified purpose4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,an entity eligible to receive a grant under this section is-- 7#a7 a ,federal agency2 7#b7 a ,state or a group of ,states2 7#c7 a unit of local government or a group of local governments2 7#d7 an irrigation district2 7#e7 a ,tribal government or a consortium of ,tribal governments2 7#f7 a ,state or regional transit agency or a group of ,state or regional transit agencies2 7#g7 a nonprofit organization2 7#h7 a special purpose district or public authority2 7#i7 a third-party private entity1 the primary business of which is related to agriculture 7as determined by the ,secretary72 and 7#aj7 any other entity1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity selected to receive a grant under this section may use funds received through the grant to carry out projects that further agricultural resiliency and modernization through-- 7#a7 reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing resilience in the agricultural sector2 7#b7 increasing carbon sequestration2 7#c7 improving soil health2 7#d7 providing multiple benefits1 including water supply reliability1 ecosystem preservation1 groundwater management and enhancements1 and water quality improvements2 7#e7 in accordance with state and federal law1 expediting projects with a focus in renewable energy1 including biofuels2 7#f7 incorporating collaborative partnerships that involve local communities in project planning on economic and social benefits of sustainable agricultural production2 7#g7 investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and technology2 7#h7 converting plant wastes into higher value biocarbon products1 including practices like pyrolysis2 7#i7 improving air and water quality1 including pollutants and odors1 with dairy digesters and non-digester manure management practices and technologies2 7#aj7 supporting clean air1 water1 climate1 and a sustainable environment helping develop local and national resilience strategies against droughts1 wildfires1 and floods2 7#aa7 supporting and funding purchases of cleaner and lower emission agriculture-related equipment like harvesting equipment1 heavy-duty trucks1 agricultural pump engines1 tractors1 and other equipment used in agricultural operations2 and 7#ab7 increasing research on the most effective methods of eradicating and controlling invasive species and pests1 such as nutria4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #ejj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4 #d4 ,pyrolysis innovation fund grant program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall establish a program under which the ,secretary will award grants to eligible entities to carry out not fewer than #aj pilot projects1 with the potential to reduce or sequester greenhouse emissions that convert and valorize tree nut harvest by-products and waste into multiple higher value biocarbon products1 including sustainable industrial applications1 agrochemicals1 repurposing process heat1 energy and construction materials4 7b7 ,eligible entity defined ,the term eligible entity means-- 7#a7 a third-party private entity1 the primary business of which is related to agriculture 7as determined by the ,secretary72 7#b7 a nongovernmental organization with experience working with agricultural producers 7as determined by the ,secretary72 and 7#c7 a governmental organization4 7c7 ,report ,not later than two years after the date on which the first grant is awarded under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate a report on-- 7#a7 the activities carried out using grants awarded under such subsection2 7#b7 best practices used to leverage the investment of the ,federal ,government for the purposes specified in subsection 7a72 and 7#c7 an assessment of the results achieved by the program established under this section4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #b1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4