,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #eee ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bh1 #bjbc,mr4 ,thune 7for himself and ,mr4 ,lujn7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to improve disaster assistance programs of the ,department of ,agriculture1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,livestock ,disaster ,assistance ,improvement ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,emergency conservation program ,title ,,iv of the ,agricultural ,credit ,act of #aigh is amended by inserting after section #djb;,b 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bbjb;b7 the following3 #djb;,c4 ,additional requirements for the emergency conservation program 7a7 ,eligibility of ,federal1 ,state1 and local land users 7#a7 ,in general ,an agricultural producer eligible to receive payments under sections #dja and #djb includes a person that-- 7,a7 holds a permit from the ,federal ,government to conduct agricultural production or grazing on ,federal land2 or 7,b7 leases land from a ,state or unit of local government to conduct agricultural production or grazing on that land4 7#b7 ,effect ,nothing in this subsection authorizes the ,secretary to make a payment under section #dja or #djb to a ,state or unit of local government4 7b7 ,permanent improvements ,emergency measures eligible for payments under sections #dja and #djb include-- 7#a7 new permanent measures1 including permanent water wells and pipelines2 and 7#b7 replacement or restoration of existing emergency measures with permanent measures1 including permanent water wells and pipelines4 7c7 ,streamlining application process 7#a7 ,waiver of public comment ,during a drought emergency1 as determined by the ,secretary1 the #cj-;day public comment period required under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 shall be waived with respect to an application to carry out emergency measures under section #dja or #djb on land administered by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management 7referred to in this subsection as the ,secretary of the ,interior74 7#b7 ,acceptance of ,,nrcs reviews ,with respect to an application to carry out emergency measures under section #dja or #djb on land administered by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of the ,interior may accept-- 7,a7 during a drought emergency1 as determined by the ,secretary1 an archeological review conducted by the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 for purposes of an archeological review required to be conducted2 7,b7 an environmental review under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 conducted by the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 for purposes of such an environmental review required to be conducted2 and 7,c7 a review under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq47 conducted by the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 for purposes of such a review required to be conducted4 4 #c4 ,emergency forest restoration program ,section #djg of the ,agricultural ,credit ,act of #aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bbjf7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c7 as paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#e71 respectively2 7,b7 by inserting before paragraph 7#c7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 with respect to nonindustrial private forest land1 an owner of the nonindustrial private forest land2 7,b7 with respect to ,federal land1 a person that holds a permit from the ,federal ,government to conduct agricultural production or grazing on the ,federal land2 and 7,c7 with respect to land owned by a ,state or a unit of local government1 a person that leases land from the ,state or unit of local government to conduct agricultural production or grazing on that land4 7#b7 ,eligible land ,the term eligible land means-- 7,a7 nonindustrial private forest land2 7,b7 ,federal land2 and 7,c7 land owned by a ,state or unit of local government4 2 and 7,c7 in paragraph 7#c7 7as so redesignated7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,i7 in the matter preceding clause 7i71 by striking nonindustrial private forest land and inserting eligible land2 and 7,,ii7 by redesignating clauses 7i7 and 7ii7 as subclauses 7,i7 and 7,,ii71 respectively1 and indenting appropriately2 7ii7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 as clauses 7i7 and 7ii71 respectively1 and indenting appropriately2 7iii7 in the matter preceding clause 7i7 7as so redesignated71 by striking ,the term and inserting the following3 7,a7 ,in general ,the term 2 and 7iv7 by adding at the end the following3 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term emergency measures includes-- 7i7 new permanent measures described in subparagraph 7,a71 including permanent water wells and pipelines2 and 7ii7 replacement or restoration of existing emergency measures with permanent measures described in subparagraph 7,a71 including permanent water wells and pipelines4 2 7#b7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 by striking an owner of nonindustrial private forest land who and inserting an eligible entity that2 and 7,b7 by striking restore the land and inserting restore eligible land2 7#c7 in subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 by striking owner must and inserting eligible entity shall2 and 7,b7 by striking nonindustrial private forest land and inserting eligible land2 7#d7 in subsection 7d71 by striking an owner of nonindustrial private forest land and inserting an eligible entity2 7#e7 by redesignating subsection 7e7 as subsection 7g72 and 7#f7 by inserting after subsection 7d7 the following3 7e7 ,streamlining application process 7#a7 ,waiver of public comment ,during a drought emergency1 as determined by the ,secretary1 the #cj-;day public comment period required under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 shall be waived with respect to an application to carry out emergency measures under this section on land administered by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management 7referred to in this subsection as the ,secretary of the ,interior74 7#b7 ,acceptance of ,,nrcs reviews ,with respect to an application to carry out emergency measures under this section on land administered by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of the ,interior may accept-- 7,a7 during a drought emergency1 as determined by the ,secretary1 an archeological review conducted by the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 for purposes of an archeological review required to be conducted2 7,b7 an environmental review under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 conducted by the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 for purposes of such an environmental review required to be conducted2 and 7,c7 a review under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq47 conducted by the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 for purposes of such a review required to be conducted4 7f7 ,effect ,nothing in this section authorizes the ,secretary to make a payment under this section to a ,state or unit of local government4 4 #d4 ,livestock forage disaster program ,section #aeja7;c77#c77;,d77ii77,i7 of the ,agricultural ,act of #bjad 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ijha7;c77#c77;,d77ii77,i77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking at least #h consecutive and inserting the following3 8not less than-- 7aa7 #d consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period for the county1 as determined by the ,secretary1 shall be eligible to receive assistance under this paragraph in an amount equal to #a monthly payment using the monthly payment rate determined under subparagraph 7,b72 or 7bb7 #h consecutive 2 and 7#b7 in item 7bb7 7as so designated71 by striking #a monthly payment and inserting #b monthly payments4 #e4 ,emergency assistance for livestock1 honey bees1 and farm-raised fish 7a7 ,in general ,section #aeja7;d7 of the ,agricultural ,act of #bjad 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ijha7;d77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by inserting drought1 after adverse weather12 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by inserting adverse weather or drought 7such as added transportation costs1 feed costs1 and reduced honey crops for eligible producers of honey bees71 after disease12 7#c7 in paragraph 7#d7-- 7,a7 by striking ,in the case and inserting the following3 7,a7 ,in general ,in the case 2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,b7 ,requirements ,the payment rate under subparagraph 7,a7 shall-- 7i7 in the case of eligible producers of honey bees1 incorporate per-hive and per-colony rates of loss2 and 7ii7 incorporate a standardized expected mortality rate of #ae percent4 2 and 7#d7 by adding at the end the following3 7#e7 ,documentation 7,a7 ,in general ,any requirements for the submission of documentation by an eligible producer to receive a payment under this subsection shall be consistent nationwide4 7,b7 ,producers of honey bees ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with eligible producers of honey bees1 shall establish a standard1 for purposes of this subsection1 for-- 7i7 collecting data2 and 7ii7 setting an annual rate for replacing colonies and hives of honey bees4 4 7b7 ,applicability to producers of honey bees ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall apply the amendments made by subsection 7a7 to producers of honey bees such that there is no limit on the size of a beekeeping operation with respect to those amendments4 #f4 ,drought monitor interagency working group 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall establish an interagency working group 7referred to in this section as the working group7 to improve the availability of consistent1 accurate1 and reliable data for use in producing the ,united ,states ,drought ,monitor in accordance with section #abeab of the ,agriculture ,improvement ,act of #bjah 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ehef74 7b7 ,membership ,the working group shall consist of not fewer than-- 7#a7 #c representatives from the ,department of ,agriculture1 including #a representative from each of-- 7,a7 the ,office of the ,chief ,economist1 who shall serve as the ,chair of the working group2 7,b7 the ,forest ,service2 and 7,c7 the ,farm ,service ,agency2 7#b7 #d representatives from the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 including #a representative from each of-- 7,a7 the ,climate ,prediction ,center2 7,b7 the ,national ,centers for ,environmental ,information2 7,c7 the ,national ,integrated ,drought ,information ,system2 and 7,d7 the ,national ,mesonet ,program2 7#c7 #a representative from the ,national ,drought ,mitigation ,center2 7#d7 #a representative from the ,department of the ,interior2 and 7#e7 #c representatives from mesonet programs in ,states-- 7,a7 that have experienced severe drought1 as determined by the ,united ,states ,drought ,monitor1 in not less than #e calendar years during the period of calendar years #bjab through #bjba2 and 7,b7 more than #ej percent of the land area of which is designated by the ,economic ,research ,service as a ,level #a frontier and remote area4 7c7 ,duties ,the working group shall-- 7#a7 develop a means for the inclusion of additional in-situ data into the process of developing the ,united ,states ,drought ,monitor1 including-- 7,a7 determining minimum requirements for data to be included in the ,united ,states ,drought ,monitor2 7,b7 identifying data available from other government agencies1 including through portals managed by the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 and 7,c7 identifying gaps in coverage and determining solutions to address those gaps2 7#b7 identify and address potential barriers to the use of existing data1 including-- 7,a7 identifying ,federal datasets that would be of immediate use in developing the ,united ,states ,drought ,monitor where access is restricted to some or all authors of the ,united ,states ,drought ,monitor2 and 7,b7 developing proposed accommodations1 modifications to contractual agreements1 or updates to interagency memoranda of understanding to allow for incorporation of datasets identified under subparagraph 7,a72 7#c7 develop an open and transparent methodology for vetting data products developed using remote sensing or modeling2 7#d7 if determined appropriate by the working group1 develop a methodology for inclusion of data that may otherwise be excluded from the ,united ,states ,drought ,monitor due to shorter periods of record2 and 7#e7 identify and address any other issues relating to data availability and quality1 as determined appropriate by the ,chair of the working group4 7d7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the working group shall submit to the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 and the relevant committees of ,congress a report containing recommendations for changes in policies1 regulations1 guidance documents1 or existing law to meet the objectives described in subsection 7c74 7#b7 ,definition of relevant committees of ,congress ,in this subsection1 the term relevant committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,d7 the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives4 7e7 ,action by the ,secretary ,not later than #ahj days after the date of submission of the report under subsection 7d71 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,commerce and the ,secretary of the ,interior1 shall incorporate1 to the extent practicable1 the recommendations of the working group to improve the ,united ,states ,drought ,monitor in accordance with section #abeab of the ,agriculture ,improvement ,act of #bjah 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ehef74 7f7 ,termination ,the working group shall terminate on the date that is #ij days after the date on which the report is submitted under subsection 7d74 #g4 ,alignment of ,farm ,service ,agency and ,forest ,service drought response 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of submission of the report under section #f7;d71 the ,administrator of the ,farm ,service ,agency and the ,chief of the ,forest ,service shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to better align drought response activities of the ,farm ,service ,agency and the ,forest ,service 7referred to in this section as the agencies74 7b7 ,contents ,the memorandum of understanding entered into under subsection 7a7 shall include-- 7#a7 a commitment to better align practices of the agencies with respect to determining the severity of regional drought conditions2 7#b7 a strategy for amending those determinations to ensure consistent policy with respect to drought response in cases where the agencies are making inconsistent determinations within the same spatial scale2 7#c7 an agreement to utilize1 to the extent practicable1 the ,united ,states ,drought ,monitor in making those determinations2 and 7#d7 an agreement to provide consistent information to grazing permittees1 operators1 and other stakeholders affected by determinations relating to drought4