,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gfef ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #af1 #bjbj,ms4 ,schrier 7for herself and ,mr4 ,larsen of ,washington7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,agriculture to make competitive grants to certain agricultural producers and other food-related businesses to carry out activities to support health and safety1 or to adapt production1 processing1 distribution1 and sales systems1 in response to ,,covid-#ai1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,food and ,farm ,emergency ,assistance ,act4 #b4 ,food business infrastructure and equipment response grants 7a7 ,grants ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,agriculture ,marketing ,service1 shall make grants to eligible entities1 on a competitive basis1 to carry out activities to support worker and public health and safety1 or to adapt production1 processing1 distribution1 and sales systems1 in response to ,,covid-#ai4 7b7 ,eligible uses ,amounts received by an eligible entity under a grant under this section shall be used for activities directly relating to ,,covid-#ai response and recovery1 including-- 7#a7 costs incurred during the ,,covid-#ai emergency period that are associated with protecting employee and consumer health and safety1 such as for personal protective equipment2 7#b7 costs incurred during such period that are associated with transitioning to a different businesses model1 such as direct-to-consumer1 online sales1 or delivery2 7#c7 costs incurred during such period to purchase or lease equipment for food processing1 storage1 or refrigeration2 and 7#d7 other similar costs incurred during such period that arise from adjusting to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic4 7c7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an application in such manner1 at such time1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the application required under paragraph 7#a7 is-- 7,a7 as simple as is practicable2 7,b7 accessible online2 and 7,c7 also available through all local offices of the ,department of ,agriculture4 7#c7 ,decisions ,not later than #g days after the date on which the ,secretary receives an application under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall notify the eligible entity that submitted the application-- 7,a7 whether the application is approved or denied2 7,b7 if the application is approved1 the date on which the eligible entity will receive the grant funds2 and 7,c7 if denied1 the reason for denial and whether the application may be revised and resubmitted4 7#d7 ,preferences ,in reviewing applications submitted under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall give preference to applications containing proposals intended to-- 7,a7 expand access to food for participants in-- 7i7 the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under section #d of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjac72 and 7ii7 a program authorized under the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agea et seq47 or ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agga et seq471 including the national school lunch program1 the national school breakfast program1 the summer food service program for children1 the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children1 and the child and adult care food program2 7,b7 enhance food distribution in high-need or underserved areas2 7,c7 address local agricultural product oversupply issues and reduce food waste2 or 7,d7 benefit young farmers or ranchers1 beginning farmers of ranchers 7as defined in section #beja7;a7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;a7771 or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers 7as defined in such section #beja7;a774 7d7 ,limitations on amounts ,the amount of a grant under this section shall not exceed-- 7#a7 in the case of an eligible entity described in subsection 7f77#a71 #ae1jjj2 and 7#b7 in the case of any other eligible entity1 #ce1jjj4 7e7 ,outreach ,the ,secretary shall conduct outreach to ,states and eligible entities with respect to the availability of grants under this section4 7f7 ,eligible entity defined ,in this section1 the term eligible entity means-- 7#a7 an individual agricultural producer2 7#b7 a group of agricultural producers1 including-- 7,a7 a cooperative2 and 7,b7 a network or association of individual farms2 7#c7 a small or very small processor of agricultural products with less than #aej employees1 as determined by the ,secretary2 7#d7 a local distributor1 including a food hub and a farmers market2 and 7#e7 any other business that is critical to maintaining a resilient agricultural supply chain in the ,united ,states1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7g7 ,funding ,of the funds of the ,commodity ,credit ,corporation1 the ,secretary shall use #ajj1jjj1jjj to carry out this section for fiscal year #bjbj1 to remain available until expended4 7h7 ,,covid-#ai emergency period ,the term ,,covid-#ai emergency period has the meaning given the term emergency period in section #aace7;g77#a77;,b7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;b-#e7;g77#a77;,b774