,,ii #aah? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 #beie ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,july #bg1 #bjbc,ms4 ,smi? 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,lujn1 & ,ms4 ,duckwor?7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry ,a ,,bill ,to provide /&+ au?ority & acc\ntability = ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture & s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture to improve ! equitable availability & di/ribution ( s]vices & program b5efits to ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,ensur+ ,acc\ntability = ,equity at ,,usda ,act4 #b4 ,purposes ,! purposes ( ?is ,act & ! am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act are-- 7#a7 to implem5t recomm5dations f ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture ,equity ,commission2 & 7#b7 to emphasize & /r5g!n section #beja;,a ( ! ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,cons]vation1 & ,trade ,act ( #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi-a74 #c4 ,transp>5cy & acc\ntability = socially disadvantag$ f>m]s & ran*]s ,section #beja;,a ( ! ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,cons]vation1 & ,trade ,act ( #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi-a7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#c71 9 ! p>agraph head+1 by /rik+ ,report & ins]t+ ,compilation & pres5t+ ( data2 & 7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#d71 by /rik+ ! report describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#c7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3 8a report t conta9s-- 7,a7 ! compil$ & pres5t$ data "u p>agraph 7#c72 7,b7 a description ( tr5ds 9 t data ov] #e- & #aj-ye> p]iods2 & 7,c7 a discussion ( ef=ts to implem5t necess>y improvem5ts to equity id5tifi$ ?r\gh activities "u subsection 7f71 includ+ metrics to quantify1 & timel9es = implem5tation1 ( ^? improvem5ts4 2 & 7#b7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 7f7 ,exam9ation & assessm5t ( programs ,9 fur!rance ( ! purposes ( ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all use data collect$ "u ?is section to exam9e & assess programs & policies ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture to id5tify & und]/&-- 7#a7 communities1 organizations1 gr\ps1 & individuals 9 ne$ ( s]vices or b5efits provid$ "u ,dep>tm5t programs2 & 7#b7 ! ext5t to :i* p>ticipants b5efitt+ f fund+ di/ribut$ "u ,dep>tm5t programs align ) ! communities1 organizations1 gr\ps1 & individuals describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 su* t ! fund+ effectively r$uces disp>ities 9 access to ,dep>tm5t programs4 4 #d4 ,ensur+ acc\ntability = equity 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,subtitle ,a ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act ( #aiid is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] section #baf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fiaf7 ! foll[+3 #bag4 ,ensur+ acc\ntability = equity 7a7 ,p]=mance evaluations ,a p]=mance evaluation ( an individual occupy+ a position ( ! head ( an ag5cy or a s5ior executive ( ! ,dep>tm5t %all include an evaluation ( appropriate direct ef=ts ( ! individual to improve equity 9 ! programs & s]vices "u ! jurisdiction ( ! ag5cy head or s5ior executive4 7b7 ,cu/om] exp]i5ce 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all issue uni=m1 ,dep>tm5t-wide guidance = ea* ag5cy & (fice ( ! ,dep>tm5t relat+ to-- 7,a7 collect+ fe$back f p>ticipants 9 ,dep>tm5t programs2 7,b7 respond+ to t fe$back2 & 7,c7 us+ t fe$back to improve ef=ts to provide m equitable & consi/5t s]vices to all individuals t seek s]vice f & engage ) ! ,dep>tm5t4 7#b7 ,requirem5ts ,! guidance issu$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all require-- 7,a7 opportunities = p>ticipants to provide fe$back ?r\gh multiple means1 su* z evaluations1 surveys1 or su* o!r means z ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be appropriate2 7,b7 opportunities describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 to be adv]tis$ ?r\gh means su* z newspap]1 radio1 or su* o!r means z ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be appropriate2 7,c7 opportunities describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 to be facilitat$ & adv]tis$1 & responses to fe$back to be provid$1 9 multiple languages1 z ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be appropriate2 & 7,d7 specific opportunities = p>ticipants ) direct involvem5t 9 a ,dep>tm5t program to provide fe$back1 includ+ by provid+ appropriate comp5sation to ^? p>ticipants = "t & exp]tise4 7c7 ,cu/om] s]vice 7#a7 ,tra9+ ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t receive cultural compet5cy tra9+1 z appropriate = ! roles ( ! employees4 7#b7 ,language contracts ,! ,secret>y %all consid]1 9 ent]+ into contracts or coop]ative agreem5ts = language translation or int]pretation s]vices1 :e!r ! ne$$ s]vices w\ld be/ be provid$ by a community-bas$ organization4 7#c7 ,/aff k ( applicable programs 7,a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is p>agraph3 7i7 ,cu/om] ,! t]m cu/om] means a recipi5t (1 applicant =1 or pot5tial applicant = s]vices or b5efits "u a ,dep>tm5t program4 7ii7 ,frontl9e cu/om] s]vice /aff ,! t]m frontl9e cu/om] s]vice /aff means an employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t :o directly int]acts ) cu/om]s4 7,b7 ,capacity build+ ,! ,secret>y %all build ! capacity ( frontl9e cu/om] s]vice /aff to make available to cu/om]s ! s]vices or b5efits = :i* ! cu/om]s are eligible4 7,c7 ,activities ,9 c>ry+ out subp>agraph 7,b71 ! ,secret>y may-- 7i7 provide to frontl9e cu/om] s]vice /aff ( ! ,dep>tm5t-- 7,i7 tra9+ & m5tor+ relat+ to cu/om] s]vice skillsets2 7,,ii7 tra9+ on te*nical tools at ! disposal ( ! frontl9e cu/om] s]vice /aff2 & 7,,iii7 tra9+ & %>eable res\rces relat+ to-- 7aa7 ! ,dep>tm5t programs = :i* a cu/om] may be eligible2 & 7bb7 ! te*nical requirem5ts & b5efits ( ^? programs2 & 7ii7 e/abli% a cu/om] fe$back opportunity aft] ea* int]action ) ! ,dep>tm5t4 7d7 ,notifications to ,congress 7#a7 ,lack ( au?ority ,if ! ,secret>y id5tifies an opportunity to improve equity 9 a p>ticul> program or s]vice b lacks au?ority to make ! necess>y *anges1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to ,congress a notification describ+-- 7,a7 t opportunity & lack ( au?ority2 & 7,b7 a recomm5dation = a legislative *ange4 7#b7 ,insuffici5t res\rces ,if ! ,secret>y id5tifies ! ne$ = additional res\rces to improve equity 9 a p>ticul> program or s]vice1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to ,congress a notification t provides an explanation ( ! ne$$ res\rces4 7e7 ,adm9i/ration ,! ,secret>y %all c>ry out ?is section us+ fund+ & /aff f )9 exi/+ budgets & appropriations = ! ,dep>tm5t4 4 7b7 ,con=m+ am5dm5t ,section #bif7;b7 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture ,reorganization ,act ( #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gjad7;b77 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 7#aa7 ,! au?ority ( ! ,secret>y to c>ry out section #bag4 4