,i  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cfej  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,may #bd1 #bjbc,mr4   
,panetta 7= himself1 ,ms4 ,adams1 ,ms4  
,l(gr51 ,ms4 ,bonamici1 ,ms4 ,p+ree1    
,mr4 ,payne1 ,mr4 ,mc,govern1 & ,ms4    
,sal9as7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,agriculture  
,a ,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,f>m ,security &  
,rural ,inve/m5t ,act ( #bjjb to exp& ! 
national organic c]tification co/-%>e   
program into a compreh5sive             
opportunities 9 organic program1 & = o!r
 purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act   
may be cit$ z ! ,opportunities 9        
,organic ,act ( #bjbc4  #b4             
,opportunities 9 organic program        
,section #ajfjf ( ! ,f>m ,security &    
,rural ,inve/m5t ,act ( #bjjb 7#g       
,u4,s4,c4 #febc7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 !    
section head+1 by /rik+ ,national       
organic c]tification co/-%>e & ins]t+   
,opportunities 9 organic2  7#b7 9       
subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ national 
organic c]tification co/-%>e program to 

assi/ & ins]t+ opportunities 9 organic  
program to-- 7#a7 assi/  2  7,b7 by     
/rik+ ! p]iod at ! end & ins]t+ 2 &2 &  
7,c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#b7   
provide support & te*nical assi/ance =  
transition to organic & organic         
managem5t4  2  7#c7 by /rik+ subsection 
7b72  7#d7 by r$esignat+ subsections 7c7
 & 7d7 z subsections 7e7 & 7f71         
respectively2  7#e7 by ins]t+ aft]      
subsection 7a7 ! foll[+3  7b7 ,f$]al    
organic c]tification co/ %>e  7#a7 ,9   
g5]al ,subject to p>agraph 7#b71 !      
,secret>y %all make paym5ts to produc]s 
& h&l]s to reimburse su* produc]s or    
h&l]s = co/s incurr$ 9 obta9+           
c]tification "u ! national organic      
production program4  7#b7 ,maximum am\nt
  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z provid$ 9     
subp>agraph 7,b71 ! maximum am\nt ( a   
paym5t made to a produc] or h&l] "u ?is 
section %all n exce$ #a1ejj4  7,b7      
,ensur+ af=dability ,not)/&+ subp>agraph
 7,a71 ! ,secret>y may make paym5ts "u  
?is section t exce$ ! maximum am\nt     

specifi$ 9 su* subp>agraph-- 7i7 9 !    
case ( su* a paym5t made to a produc] or
 h&l] :o is-- 7,i7 locat$ 9 a region )  
disproportionately high c]tification    
co/s2 or  7,,ii7 a memb] ( a socially   
disadvantag$ gr\p2 or  7ii7 9 ! case (  
any o!r su* paym5t made to a produc] or 
h&l] n describ$ 9 clause 7i71 if !      
,secret>y det]m9es t exce$+ su* am\nt   
w\ld ensure t organic c]tification co/s 
are n a b>ri] to organic production4    
7c7 ,transition & resili5ce fund+  7#a7 
,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all aw>d fund+ to
 eligible nonpr(it organizations = any (
 ! purposes specifi$ 9 p>agraphs 7#b71  
7#c71 & 7#d74  7#b7 ,capacity build+ ,! 
purposes specifi$ 9 ?is p>agraph are    
/aff+1 mat]ials1 activities1 & p>tn]%ips
 7su* z ) small] nonpr(it organizations7
 t support transition to organic &      
resili5ce ( c]tifi$ organic f>ms1       
includ+ ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,recruitm5t (    
produc]s to beg9 transition to organic4 
7,b7 ,translation & communication       
support1 includ+ ! developm5t ( simple &

 culturally appropriate mat]ials to     
increase und]/&+ ( ! practices &        
processes requir$ to become c]tifi$ "u !
 ,organic ,foods ,production ,act (     
#aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #feja et seq474     
7,c7 ,assi/ance ) applications1         
compliance1 recordkeep+1 & o!r aspects (
 ! organic c]tification process "u su*  
,act4  7,d7 ,f9ancial1 bus9ess1 & f>m   
plann+4  7,e7 ,support = fair contract+4
  7,f7 ,te*nical assi/ance ) soil       
build+1 pe/ managem5t1 & o!r practices4 
7,g7 ,provid+ tra9+ on organic          
c]tification requirem5ts & organic      
managem5t to agricultural advisors &    
consultants1 includ+ agronomi/s1 crop   
advisors1 pe/ control advisors1 ext5sion
 ag5ts1 f>m consultants1 & o!r te*nical 
s]vice provid]s4  7,h7 ,facilitat+ paid 
m5tor-m5tee relation%ips betwe5 organic 
produc]s & produc]s 9 transition to     
organic1 includ+ /ip5ds = all           
p>ticipants & tra9+ to support effective
 m5tor%ip4  7,i7 ,assi/+ produc]s )     
access+ res\rces & fund+1 includ+       

cons]vation programs1 risk managem5t    
tools1 & organic support & rese>*       
programs4  7,j7 ,e/abli%+ or exp&+      
coop]atives1 organic gr[] gr\ps1 c]tifi$
 organic process+1 /orage1 di/ribution  
facilities & equipm5t1 food hubs1 food  
security & sov]eignty programs1         
organic-compliant compo/+ s]vices1 & o!r
 regional food%$ & supply *a9           
infra/ructure4  7,k7 ,on-f>m rese>*1    
includ+ monitor+ biodiv]sity1 air1 &    
wat] quality1 measur+ *anges 9 soil     
organic c>bon & indicators ( soil heal?1
 develop+ regionally adapt$ se$s &      
bre$s1 & trial+ & docum5t+ effectiv5ess 
( holi/ic approa*es to pe/1 we$1 &      
disease control4  7,l7 ,recruit+ & tra9+
 organic c]tification /aff & inspectors1
 ) an emphasis on exp&+ opportunities = 
socially disadvantag$ f>m]s & ran*]s &  
increas+ div]sity 9 ! c]tification      
process4  7,m7 ,increas+ access to l& = 
socially disadvantag$ f>m]s & ran*]s &  
small- & mid-siz$ f>ms & ran*es &       
promot+ long-t]m organic managem5t 7su* 

z pur*ases ( l& = incubator projects1   
promot+ & support+ lease-to-own         
contracts1 resolv+ heirs prop]ty issues1
 & e/abli%+ easem5ts t facilitate       
long-t]m organic /ew>d%ip74  7,n7 ,ho/+ 
or support+ regional conv5+s1 conf]5ces1
 f>m]-l$ tra9+s1 field days1 tea*-ins1 &
 o!r educational opportunities focus$ on
 organic production4  7,o7 ,e/abli%+    
infra/ructure = int]-f>m] skills %>e &  
ex*anges1 includ+ virtual =ums4  7#c7   
,produc] transition & resili5ce ,!      
purpose specifi$ 9 ?is p>agraph is to   
provide "o-"t1 #d-ye>1 transition &     
resili5ce fund+ to socially disadvantag$
 f>m]s or ran*]s or small or mid-siz$   
f>ms or ran*es to (fset co/s (1 & r$uce 
b>ri]s to1 becom+ or exp&+ a c]tifi$    
organic f>m1 includ+ ?r\gh ! foll[+3    
7,a7 ,creat+ or exp&+ an organic sy/em  
plan 7z def9$ 9 section #bje4b ( title  
#g1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations1 z 9    
effect on ! date ( ! enactm5t ( !       
,opportunities 9 ,organic ,act ( #bjbc71
 includ+ ! foll[+3 7i7 ,complet+ organic

 c]tification docum5ts1 plann+1 &       
recordkeep+4  7ii7 ,develop+ a plan to  
build soil heal?4  7,b7 ,adopt+1        
improv+1 or exp&+ organic managem5t1    
includ+3 7i7 ,elim9at+ use ( syn!tic    
pe/icides1 syn!tic f]tiliz]s1 or        
antibiotics4  7ii7 ,cov] cropp+1 crop   
rotation1 or rotational graz+4  7iii7   
,production & use ( compo/ & manure     
7includ+ pur*as+ tools1 supplies1 or    
/orage74  7iv7 ,s\rc+ or produc+ organic
 se$ & fe$4  7v7 ,h$g][ & ecosy/em      
enhancem5t plant+ & design4  7vi7       
,pur*as+ supplies = int]cropp+ &        
polycropp+ or o!r specializ$ equipm5t4  
7vii7 ,support+ b5eficial pr$ators1     
poll9ator habitats1 erosion prev5tion1  
or wat]%$ re/oration4  7,c7 ,co/s       
associat$ ) process+1 /orage1 &         
di/ribution equipm5t & facilities4  7,d7
 ,c>ry+ out on-f>m rese>* to monitor &  
docum5t ! impacts ( transition to       
organic1 includ+ 9 p>tn]%ip ) ano!r     
entity4  7,e7 ,soil te/+4  7,f7 ,debt   
relief to improve access to capital &   

f9ancial /ability4  7,g7 ,=m+ a         
coop]ative or f>m]-to-f>m] network4     
7,h7 ,tra9+ to become an organic        
inspector to exp& rev5ue & regional     
inspection capacity4  7,i7 ,cov]+ co/s  
associat$ ) ov]com+ b>ri]s to l& access1
 includ+ paym5ts to secure long] leases 
& to cov] co/s associat$ )-- 7i7 access+
 l& t has n be5 treat$ ) mat]ials       
prohibit$ = use on a c]tifi$ organic    
f>m2 or  7ii7 transition+ l& to organic 
managem5t4  7,j7 ,cov]+ labor co/s1     
includ+ improvem5ts to workplace safety1
 comp5sation1 pr(essional developm5t1 & 
/aff tra9+ on organic transition        
implem5tation4  7,k7 ,improv+ food      
safety practices & obta9+ relat$        
c]tifications4  7,l7 ,provid+ or        
p>ticipat+ 9 organic agriculture        
educational opportunities4  7,m7        
,replac+ =egone income dur+ transition  
to organic due to %ort-t]m *anges 9     
yield & limit$ m>ket options4  7,n7     
,con/ruction or improvem5t ( h\s+ =     
appr5tices1 tra9ees1 or volunte]s or o!r

 on-f>m infra/ructure4  7,o7 ,f9ancial1 
bus9ess1 & f>m plann+4  7#d7 ,organic   
supply *a9 ,! purposes specifi$ 9 ?is   
p>agraph are to provide fund+ to o!r    
entities-- 7,a7 to /r5g!n organic       
capacity or exp& access to c]tifi$      
organic h&l+ op]ations1 includ+-- 7i7   
con/ruct+1 exp&+1 or improv+ access to a
 c]tifi$ organic h&l+ op]ation2  7ii7   
pur*as+ f>m equipm5t1 value add$        
supplies1 & o!r mat]ials t improve m>ket
 access2 &  7iii7 pursu+ organic        
c]tification = an exi/+ h&l+ op]ation2 &
  7,b7 to /r5g!n opportunities 9 organic
 production = socially disadvantag$     
f>m]s or ran*]s1 small or mid-siz$ f>ms 
or ran*es1 or vuln]able agricultural    
regions 7su* z f>ms ne> s*ools1 *ildc>e 
provid]s1 resid5tial areas1 s5sitive    
ecosy/ems7 or "u-res\rc$ agricultural   
regions4  7#e7 ,meet+s ,an eligible     
nonpr(it organization t receives funds  
"u ?is subsection %all-- 7,a7           
communicate n less ?an once p] cal5d>   
qu>t] ) ea* entity aw>d$ fund+ = !      

purposes specifi$ 9 p>agraphs 7#c7 &    
7#d7 to-- 7i7 monitor progress ) respect
 to transition to organic & organic     
supply *a9 developm5t2  7ii7 address !  
improvem5t to1 & impact (1 ! transition 
to organic production1 includ+ obs]v$   
*anges 9 biodiv]sity1 soil heal?1 pe/s1 
we$s1 & disease occurr5ce1 crop yield1 &
 resili5ce2  7iii7 address *all5ges 9   
transition+ to organic & program        
p>ticipation2  7iv7 consid] m>ket       
opportunities = organic products & !    
adoption ( additional practices t r$uce 
! use ( syn!tic *emicals & fo/] soil    
f]tility2 &  7v7 explore opportunities =
 coord9at$ f>m team meet+s ) /aff f     
relevant ag5cies & o!r organizations1 to
 /reaml9e agricultural assi/ance &      
improve f>m viability1 :ile increas+    
adoption ( on-f>m cons]vation practices2
 &  7,b7 meet n less ?an once p] ye> )  
/aff ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture 7z    
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y7 = ! duration ( !
 fund+ p]iod to discuss program         
p>ticipation & impacts1 demographics &  

scale ( p>ticipants1 transition success 
rates1 m>ket opportunities1 rese>*      
results1 & *all5ges id5tifi$4  7d7      
,te*nical assi/ance  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!   
,secret>y %all increase regional        
res\rces to support organic managem5t1  
includ+ te*nical assi/ance1 outrea*1    
supply *a9 coord9ation1 & activities    
specifi$ 9 p>agraph 7#b71 ?r\gh exp&$   
organic-relat$ capacity & p>tn]%ips at--
 7,a7 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture1       
includ+ )9 ! ,agricultural ,m>ket+      
,s]vice1 ! ,f>m ,s]vice ,ag5cy1 !       
,natural ,res\rces ,cons]vation ,s]vice1
 ! ,risk ,managem5t ,ag5cy1 ! (fices "u 
! ,und]secret>y ( ,rural ,developm5t1 ! 
,food & ,nutrition ,s]vice1 & climate   
hubs1 ) an emphasis on local & regional 
(fices2  7,b7 univ]sities & educational 
in/itutions1 ) an emphasis on           
in/itutions s]v+ socially disadvantag$  
f>m]s & ran*]s2  7,c7 ! coop]ative      
ext5sion programs ( ! ,secret>y1 includ+
 ! f$]ally recogniz$ ,tribes ext5sion   
program "u section #c7;d7 ( !           

,smi?-,lev] ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4          
#cdc7;d772  7,d7 ,/ate1 regional1 &     
,tribal dep>tm5ts ( agriculture2 &  7,e7
 eligible nonpr(it organizations4  7#b7 
,activities ,activities specifi$ 9 ?is  
p>agraph include-- 7,a7 provid+ regional
 education sessions on organic          
managem5t2  7,b7 develop+               
regionally-tailor$ res\rces1 te*nical   
assi/ance programs1 & tea*+ f>ms =      
organic produc]s & produc]s 9 transition
 to organic1 includ+ tools to promote & 
facilitate p>ticipation ( socially      
disadvantag$ f>m]s & ran*]s & small- &  
mid-siz$ f>ms & ran*es 9 organic &      
complem5t>y support programs2  7,c7     
conduct+ ongo+ outrea* to1 & ne$s       
assessm5t (1 produc]s 9 transition to   
organic to id5tify b>ri]s to organic    
production & me*anisms to address su*   
b>ri]s2  7,d7 id5tify+ priority         
locations to promote transition to      
organic1 includ+ ne> s*ools & *ildc>e   
provid]s1 resid5tial areas1 & s5sitive  
ecosy/ems2  7,e7 develop+ organic supply

 *a9 & infra/ructure2  7,f7 exp&+       
organic & local supply *a9s & m>ket     
opportunities1 includ+ e/abli%+ *annels 
= produc]s to (f] products to           
in/itutional buy]s & support+ pur*ases  
?r\gh nutrition programs2 &  7,g7       
advanc+ food wa/e r$uction /rategies t  
support produc] income & soil heal?1    
includ+-- 7i7 clos$-loop programs t     
connect community compo/+ & food scrap  
collection op]ations ) f>ms2 &  7ii7    
coord9ation to maximize use ( f>m       
products1 compo/+1 & wa/e r$uction2  2  
7#f7 9 subsection 7e71 z s r$esignat$-- 
7,a7 by /rik+ includ+ ! & ins]t+ !      
foll[+3 includ+-- 7#a7 !  2  7,b7 by    
/rik+ ! p]iod at ! end & ins]t+ a       
semicolon2 &  7,c7 by add+ at ! end !   
foll[+3  7#b7 ! demographics1 acreage1 &
 sales ( produc] p>ticipants1 aggregat$ 
by region2  7#c7 ! numb] ( produc]s &   
h&l]s t receiv$ support f ! program 9 ! 
previ\s fiscal ye> :o-- 7,a7 began      
transition to organic2 &  7,b7 a*iev$   
new organic c]tification2  7#d7 any     

b>ri]s to a*iev+ organic c]tification2  
7#e7 ! transition activities c>ri$ out  
by eligible nonpr(it organizations & !  
measures ( success ( su* activities2    
7#f7 rese>* f9d+s & be/ practices to    
support transition to organic2  7#g7    
*anges 9 organic-relevant capacity at   
public in/itutions & eligible nonpr(it  
organizations2 &  7#h7 *anges 9         
availability ( organic-relevant te*nical
 assi/ance4  2  7#g7 9 subsection       
7f77#a71 z s r$esignat$1 by /rik+       
subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,c7 & ins]t+ ! 
foll[+3  7,a7 #ej1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal
 ye>s #bjbd & #bjbe2  7,b7 #hj1jjj1jjj =
 fiscal ye> #bjbf2 &  7,c7 #ajj1jjj1jjj 
= ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjbg & #bjbh4  2 & 
7#h7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7f7    
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7        
,socially disadvantag$ f>m] or ran*]2   
socially disadvantag$ gr\p ,! t]ms      
socially disadvantag$ f>m] or ran*] &   
socially disadvantag$ gr\p h ! mean+s   
giv5 ^? t]ms 9 section #beja7;a7 ( !    
,food1 ,agriculture1 ,cons]vation1 &    

,trade ,act ( #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4       
#bbgi7;a774  7#b7 ,eligible nonpr(it    
organization ,! t]m eligible nonpr(it   
organization means a nonpr(it           
organization 7z def9$ 9 section         
#afai7;b7 ( ! ,food1 ,agriculture1      
,cons]vation1 & ,trade ,act ( #aiij 7#g 
,u4,s4,c4 #ehja7;b77 t prim>ily s]ves at
 lea/ "o ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,socially     
disadvantag$ f>m]s & ran*]s4  7,b7      
,organic produc]s & h&l]s4  7,c7 ,"o or 
m vuln]able 7e4g41 f>ms ne> s*ools1     
*ildc>e provid]s1 resid5tial areas1     
s5sitive ecosy/ems7 or "u-res\rc$       
agricultural regions4  7,d7 ,small]     
nonpr(it organizations t prim>ily s]ve  
7,a71 7,b71 or 7,c74  7#c7 ,organic ,!  
t]m organic has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9  
section #bje4b ( title #g1 ,code (      
,f$]al ,regulations 7or successor       
regulations74  7#d7 ,c]tifi$ organic f>m
 ,! t]m c]tifi$ organic f>m has ! mean+ 
giv5 t t]m 9 section #bajc ( ,food1     
,agriculture1 ,cons]vation1 & ,trade    
,act ( #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fejb74  7#e7

 ,c]tifi$ organic h&l+ op]ation ,! t]m  
c]tifi$ organic h&l+ op]ation has !     
mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section #bajc (      
,food1 ,agriculture1 ,cons]vation1 &    
,trade ,act ( #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4       
#fejb74  7#f7 ,transition to organic ,! 
t]m transition to organic means c>ry+   
out ! /eps requir$ to become a c]tifi$  
organic f>m4  4