H.R. 7745 — Introduced in House

I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7745 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 23, 2020Mr. Harder of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to address the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on State and local fairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Fairs During Coronavirus Act. 2. State and local fair grant program (a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program (in this section referred to as the Program) to address the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on State and local fairs. (b) Grant authority and eligible entities In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may make, on a competitive basis, grants to States in accordance with this section. (c) Applications To be eligible for a grant under the Program, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. (d) Grant uses A State may only use grant funds provided under the Program to assist a covered entity to address cost coverage issues related to the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on State and local fairs, including by identifying opportunities to provide virtual education and entertainment related to agriculture. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to carry out the Program. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered entity The term covered entity means a State agricultural agency with responsibility for operating a State or local fair. (2) State The term State means each of the following: (A) The 50 States. (B) The District of Columbia. (C) The territories of the United States.