,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bicf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bg 7legislative day1 ,september #bb71 #bjbc,ms4 ,baldwin 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,king1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 and ,mr4 ,welch7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to establish as a permanent program the organic market development grant program of the ,department of ,agriculture4 #a4 ,organic market development grant program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,certified organic product ,the term certified organic product means an agricultural product 7as defined in section #bajc of the ,organic ,foods ,production ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fejb77 that is organically produced 7as defined in that section74 7#b7 ,eligible entity 7,a7 ,in general ,the term eligible entity means an entity described in subparagraph 7,b7 that-- 7i7 is owned and operated within-- 7,i7 a ,state2 7,,ii7 the ,district of ,columbia2 7,,iii7 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico2 7,,iv7 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands2 7,v7 ,guam2 7,,vi7 ,american ,samoa2 7,,vii7 the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands2 or 7,,viii7 the jurisdiction of a ,tribal government2 and 7ii7 7,i7 is certified in accordance with subpart ,e of part #bje of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations72 or 7,,ii7 is in transition to certification4 7,b7 ,entities described ,an entity referred to in subparagraph 7,a7 is-- 7i7 a producer1 producer cooperative1 or other commercial entity that produces or handles certified organic products2 7ii7 a nonprofit corporation2 7iii7 a trade association2 7iv7 a public benefit corporation2 7v7 a philanthropic organization2 7vi7 a unit of ,tribal1 ,state1 territorial1 or local government2 or 7vii7 such other entity as the ,secretary may designate4 7,c7 ,exclusion ,the term eligible entity does not include an entity described in subparagraph 7,b7 the operations of which are suspended or revoked under section #bje4ffb of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation74 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7#d7 ,transition to certification ,the term transition to certification1 with respect to an eligible entity1 means the period of time during which the crops or livestock of the eligible entity1 as applicable1 are managed in accordance with the requirements of the ,national ,organic ,program before being granted organic certification1 which may include-- 7,a7 the management of cropland organically for not less than #c years2 7,b7 the management of slaughter of livestock organically from the last third of gestation2 7,c7 the management of dairy animals organically for not less than #a year2 7,d7 the management of poultry organically from the second day of life2 and 7,e7 such other conditions as the ,secretary may require4 7b7 ,establishment and purpose ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,service1 shall establish a program1 to be known as the ,organic ,market ,development ,grant ,program1 that-- 7#a7 increases the capacity of the domestic organic product supply chain for producers1 handlers1 suppliers1 and processors of certified organic products2 7#b7 modernizes manufacturing1 tracking1 storage1 and information technology systems specific to the purposes described in this subsection1 such as process control or organic product ingredient tracking systems2 7#c7 improves the capacity of eligible entities to comply with applicable regulatory requirements or quality standards required to access markets1 such as requirements and standards relating to food safety and organic product certification2 7#d7 expands capacity for storage1 processing1 aggregation1 and distribution of certified organic products to create more and better markets for producers of certified organic products2 7#e7 facilitates market development for domestically produced certified organic products2 7#f7 provides for the conduct of feasibility studies and market viability assessments to inform organic transition strategies and opportunities2 7#g7 ameliorates barriers to entry to organic product certification for historically underserved entities2 7#h7 supports market and promotional activities that help build commercial markets for certified organic products in the ,united ,states2 and 7#i7 provides technical assistance and outreach to program stakeholders and participants4 7c7 ,grants ,for each fiscal year for which amounts are made available to carry out this section under subsection 7k71 the ,secretary shall provide grants to support eligible entities in conducting activities in accordance with the purposes of the program described in subsection 7b74 7d7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,simplified process ,the ,secretary shall implement a simplified application and award process under this section for use by any eligible entity seeking to carry out an equipment-only project4 7#c7 ,benefits 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 an application submitted under this subsection shall include a description of the direct or indirect producer or food business benefits intended by the eligible entity to result from the proposed project within a reasonable period of time after the receipt of a grant under this section4 7,b7 ,exception ,subparagraph 7,a7 shall not apply to any feasibility study or market viability assessment conducted pursuant to this section4 7#d7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary shall establish such criteria for the evaluation and funding of proposed projects under this section as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7#e7 ,competitive process ,the ,secretary-- 7,a7 shall conduct a competitive process to select applications submitted under this subsection2 7,b7 may assess and rank applications with similar purposes as a group2 and 7,c7 before accepting any application under this subsection1 shall publish the criteria to be used in evaluating the applications4 7e7 ,project types ,an eligible entity may use amounts received under this section to carry out1 in accordance with such goals and deadlines for completion as the ,secretary may establish1 the following types of projects3 7#a7 ,market development and promotion of certified organic products4 7#b7 ,certified organic product storage 7including cold storage71 aggregation1 processing1 and distribution capacity expansion4 7#c7 ,equipment-only4 7f7 ,term ,unless otherwise determined by the ,secretary1 a grant provided under this section shall have a term of not longer than #c years4 7g7 ,maximum amount 7#a7 ,in general ,the amount of a grant provided under this section for a project described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b7 of subsection 7e7 shall be not more than #c1jjj1jjj4 7#b7 ,simplified equipment-only projects ,the amount of a grant provided under this section for a project described in subsection 7e77#c7 shall be not more than #ajj1jjj4 7h7 ,matching funds 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section to carry out a project described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b7 of subsection 7e7 shall provide a non-,federal share equal to not less than #ej percent of the cost of the project4 7#b7 ,simplified equipment-only projects ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section to carry out a project described in subsection 7e77#c7 shall not be required to contribute a non-,federal share to the cost of the project4 7i7 ,inapplicability of prior limitations 7#a7 ,quantity ,the ,secretary may provide a grant under this section to more than #a eligible entity1 as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7#b7 ,construction and structural changes ,a grant provided under this section may be used by an eligible entity for-- 7,a7 new construction2 or 7,b7 any structural modification to an existing building or facility resulting in-- 7i7 an expansion in the square footage of the building or facility2 or 7ii7 a change to the floor1 the foundation1 or an exterior or load-bearing wall of the building or facility4 7j7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary may provide to eligible entities technical assistance under this section1 directly or through a cooperative agreement4 7k7 ,funding 7#a7 ,mandatory funding ,of the funds of the ,commodity ,credit ,corporation1 the ,secretary shall use to carry out this section #ge1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbd and each fiscal year thereafter1 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #be1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbd and each fiscal year thereafter1 to remain available until expended4