S. 3970 — Introduced in Senate

II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3970 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 16, 2020Mrs. Loeffler introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to promote an American agriculture first agenda and establish the position of Domestic Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator in the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture to connect United States farmers with foodbanks, grocers, and nonprofit food distributors during periods of food scarcity, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Farmers, Food Banks, and Families Act of 2020. 2. Domestic Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator (a) In general Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by inserting after section 216 (7 U.S.C. 6916) the following: 217. Domestic Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator (a) Authorization The Secretary shall establish in the Office of the Secretary a position of Domestic Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator (referred to in this section as the Administrator). (b) Duties The Administrator shall— (1) carry out activities in the interest of assisting farmers in entering the products of the farmers into the domestic market; (2) act as a liaison between— (A) farmers; and (B) food banks, schools, grocers, restaurants, and other food distribution entities partnered with the Department or other nonprofit organizations; and (3) (A) identify barriers, either regulatory or legal, that prevent or inhibit farmers from entering the products of the farmers into the domestic market through food distribution networks or other entities; and (B) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the means by which to remove the barriers identified under subparagraph (A). (c) Purposes The purposes of the Administrator shall be— (1) to promote the domestic supply chain; and (2) to connect farmers that have excess agricultural products, whether perishable or nonperishable, with an appropriate food distribution organization that is in need of certain agricultural products. (d) Team The Administrator shall oversee a team composed of— (1) a regulatory reform officer; (2) an agricultural marketing expert; and (3) individuals with private sector experience in the food distribution network. (e) Collaboration The Administrator shall convene representatives of appropriate Federal advisory committees of the Agricultural Marketing Service, Federal agencies, and members of the private sector to advise the Administrator in carrying out the duties described in subsection (b). (f) Existing position To the extent practicable, the Administrator shall be an additional role of an existing position, and not a new position, within the Office of the Secretary. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 296(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (11) The authority of the Secretary to carry out the amendments made to this title by the American Farmers, Food Banks, and Families Act of 2020 . (c) Technical correction Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by redesignating section 225 (7 U.S.C. 6925) as section 224A. 3. Catalogue to connect farmers and food distribution organizations The Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with private sector entities, shall establish a catalogue or data resource that is capable of recording— (1) farms that have excess agricultural products; and (2) food distribution organizations that are in need of certain agricultural products.