,i #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #heif ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bi1 #bjbb,mrs4 ,miller-,meeks 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,pingree1 ,mr4 ,panetta1 ,mr4 ,feenstra1 ,ms4 ,kuster1 and ,ms4 ,schrier7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih to direct the ,secretary of ,agriculture to establish a national biochar research network1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,biochar ,research ,network ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,national biochar research network ,title ,,iv of the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih is amended by inserting before section #djd 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gfbd7 the following new section3 #djc4 ,national biochar research network 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a national biochar research network of not more than #bj research sites to test the full range of biochar types across soil types1 soil conditions1 application methods1 and climatic and agronomic regions to-- 7#a7 assess the soil carbon sequestration potential of biochar2 7#b7 understand how to use biochar productively to contribute to climate mitigation1 crop production1 resilience to extreme weather events1 ecosystem health1 and natural resource conservation2 and 7#c7 deliver science-based1 region-specific1 cost-effective1 and practical information to farmers1 ranchers1 foresters1 land reclamation managers1 urban land managers and other land and natural resource managers and businesses on sustainable biochar production and application4 7b7 ,scope ,the national biochar research network established under subsection 7a7 shall encompass agriculture1 horticulture1 rangeland1 forestry1 and other biochar uses and a broad range of feedstocks1 production processes1 and application treatments4 ,the research conducted shall include-- 7#a7 cross-site and mechanistic experiments to-- 7,a7 fill critical knowledge gaps and gain a more complete understanding of the impact of various types of biochar in varying site conditions on soil properties1 plant growth1 greenhouse gas emissions1 and carbon sequestration in different soils1 climates1 and other natural and agronomic conditions2 7,b7 provide mechanistic and techno-economic insights on thermochemical conversion processes in biochar production and the co-production of biochar and bioenergy1 including interactions of feedstock properties with reactor conditions and processes on the relative proportions and properties of biochar1 bio-fuels1 and value-added co-products1 as well as process efficiency2 7,c7 generate data to develop1 calibrate1 and validate robust mechanistic models to predict the full life cycle of greenhouse gas1 crop response1 and related agronomic and environmental implications of particular applications of biochar2 7,d7 generate data to help guide the design of new1 more-efficient biochar and bioenergy production reactors and biorefineries2 and 7,e7 generate data to develop1 calibrate1 and validate testing methodologies for biochar to identify potential contaminants or other factors that may cause unintended consequences2 7#b7 site-specific farm and forestry systems assessments and pilot-scale biochar production and application systems to-- 7,a7 refine the most promising soil-based uses1 sources1 and methods of producing and applying biochar in particular regions to enhance productivity1 increase profitability1 scalability1 and portability1 reduce greenhouse gas emissions1 improve ecosystem health1 and strengthen resilience to extreme weather events1 and explore soil1 crop1 climate1 management1 and biochar interactions2 7,b7 develop new knowledge to support decisions on sustainable production and use of biochar2 7,c7 collect relevant data needed for full life cycle greenhouse gas and economic analyses and complete such analysis2 7,d7 predict plant-response1 soil health1 soil carbon sequestration1 ecosystem health1 water quality1 greenhouse gas1 and economic outcomes for specific implementations of biochar technology2 7,e7 provide data to evaluate local biomass feedstocks1 support selection of sustainable biochar production methods1 and address biochar production issues2 and 7,f7 share research results to inform farmers1 horticulturalists1 ranchers1 foresters1 urban biochar users1 extension agents and specialists1 and technical assistance providers on the most advantageous ways to use biochar to increase profitability1 raise productivity1 lower costs1 improve soil and plant health1 and enhance resilience to extreme weather events while contributing to carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reductions4 7c7 ,eligibility ,an entity is eligible to be selected to conduct research funded under this section if such entity is-- 7#a7 a ,state agricultural experiment station or a ,state forestry experiment station2 7#b7 a research facility of the ,agricultural ,research ,service1 the ,forest ,service1 or any other agency of the ,department of ,agriculture that the ,secretary determines is appropriate2 or 7#c7 a research facility of the ,department of ,energy1 the ,department of ,commerce1 or the ,department of the ,interior4 7d7 ,administration 7#a7 ,in general ,the research network established under subsection 7a7 shall be administered by the ,administrator of the ,agricultural ,research ,service1 in partnership with ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,food and ,agriculture1 the ,secretary of ,energy1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 and1 as determined by the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 other agencies of the ,department of ,agriculture4 7#b7 ,conservation ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service-- 7,a7 may develop a practice standard informed by the research2 and 7,b7 shall coordinate the activities of the research network established under subsection 7a7 with-- 7i7 the development and refinement of a biochar conservation practice standard2 and 7ii7 improvements and expansion of conservation program technical and financial support for biochar production and application4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj for each fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbh4 4