,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cgag  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,janu>y #bh1 #bjbf,mr4 
,wel* 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,b5net1 ,mr4     
,book]1 ,mr4 ,fett]man1 ,mrs4 ,gillibr&1
 ,mr4 ,he9ri*1 ,mr4 ,k+1 ,mr4 ,m]kley1  
,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,s&]s1 ,mr4 ,s*iff1  
,ms4 ,smi?1 & ,mr4 ,padilla7 introduc$ !
 foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ 
to ! ,committee on ,agriculture1        
,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry  ,a ,,bill  ,to    
am5d ! ,f>m ,security & ,rural ,inve/m5t
 ,act ( #bjjb to exp& ! national organic
 c]tification co/-%>e program into a    
compreh5sive organic program1 & = o!r   
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,opportunities 9 ,organic  
,act4  #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 
by /rik+ subsection 7b72  7#c7 by       

r$esignat+ subsections 7c7 & 7d7 z      
subsections 7e7 & 7f71 respectively2    
7#d7 9 subsection 7a71 by /rik+ !       
subsection designation & head+ & all t  
foll[s ?r\gh ,secret>y ( ,agriculture & 
ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7b7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!    
,secret>y  2  7#e7 by ins]t+ be=e       
subsection 7b7 7z s r$esignat$7 !       
foll[+3  7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3
 7#a7 ,c]tifi$ organic f>m2 c]tifi$     
organic h&l+ op]ation ,! t]ms c]tifi$   
organic f>m & c]tifi$ organic h&l+      
op]ation h ! mean+s giv5 ^? t]ms 9      
section #bajc ( ! ,organic ,foods       
,production ,act ( #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4  
#fejb74  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;b777 t prim>ily s]ves  
at lea/ #a ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,socially   
disadvantag$ f>m]s & ran*]s4  7,b7      
,organic produc]s & h&l]s4  7,c7 #a or m

 vuln]able agricultural regions1 su* z  
f>ms ne> s*ools1 *ildc>e provid]s1      
resid5tial areas1 or s5sitive ecosy/ems4
  7,d7 #a or m "u-res\rc$ agricultural  
regions4  7,e7 ,small] nonpr(it         
organizations 7z s def9$7 t prim>ily    
s]ve ! entities or regions describ$ 9   
subp>agraph 7,a71 7,b71 7,c71 or 7,d74  
7#c7 ,national organic production       
program ,! t]m national organic         
production program means ! national     
organic production program e/abli%$ "u !
 ,organic ,foods ,production ,act (     
#aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #feja et seq474     
7#d7 ,organic ,! t]m organic has ! mean+
 giv5 ! t]m 9 section #bje4b ( title #g1
 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or a      
successor regulation74  7#e7 ,program ,!
 t]m program means ! ,opportunities 9   
,organic program e/abli%$ "u subsection 
7b74  7#f7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y   
means ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture4  7#g7 
,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#h7 ,transition to organic
 ,! t]m transition to organic means !   
/eps requir$ to become a c]tifi$ organic
 f>m4  2  7#f7 9 subsection 7b7 7z s    
r$esignat$7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ a national  
organic c]tification co/-%>e program to 
assi/ & ins]t+ ! foll[+3 a program1 to  
be kn[n z ! ,opportunities 9 ,organic   
program-- 7#a7 to assi/  2  7,b7 9      
p>agraph 7#a7 7z s designat$71 by /rik+ 
program e/abli%$ & all t foll[s ?r\gh ! 
p]iod at ! end & ins]t+ program2 &2 &   
7,c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#b7 to
 provide support & te*nical assi/ance = 
transition to organic & organic         
managem5t4  2  7#g7 by ins]t+ aft]      
subsection 7b7 7z s r$esignat$7 !       
foll[+3  7c7 ,f$]al organic c]tification
 co/-,%>e  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject to    
p>agraphs 7#b7 & 7#c71 ! ,secret>y %all 
pay "u ?is subsection ! co/s incurr$ by 

a produc] or h&l] 9 obta9+ c]tification 
"u ! national organic production        
program1 z c]tifi$ to & approv$ by !    
,secret>y4  7#b7  ,maximum am\nt        
,except z provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#c71 !    
maximum am\nt ( a paym5t made to a      
produc] or h&l] "u ?is subsection %all  
be #a1ejj4  7#c7  ,ensur+ af=dability   
,not)/&+ p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,secret>y may 
make paym5ts t exce$ ! maximum am\nt "u 
t p>agraph to ensure t organic          
c]tification co/s are n a b>ri] to      
organic production1 includ+ paym5t to a 
produc] or h&l] :o is--  7,a7 locat$ 9 a
 region ) disproportionately high       
c]tification co/s1 z det]m9$ by !       
,secret>y2 or  7,b7 a memb] ( a socially
 disadvantag$ gr\p4  7d7 ,support =     
transition to organic & te*nical        
assi/ance  7#a7 ,transition & resili5ce 
fund+  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all  
aw>d fund+ to eligible nonpr(it         
organizations-- 7i7 to build capacity to
 support transition to organic 9        
accordance ) subp>agraph 7,b72 &  7ii7  

to support transition to organic 9      
accordance ) subp>agraphs 7,c7 & 7,d74  
7,b7 ,activities to build capacity ,an  
eligible nonpr(it organization t is     
aw>d$ fund+ "u ?is subp>agraph may use !
 fund+ = /aff+1 mat]ials1 activities1 & 
p>tn]%ips 7includ+ p>tn]%ips ) eligible 
nonpr(it organizations describ$ 9       
subsection 7a77#b77;,e77 t support      
transition to organic & resili5ce (     
c]tifi$ organic f>ms1 includ+-- 7i7 !   
recruitm5t ( produc]s to beg9 transition
 to organic2  7ii7 translation &        
communication support1 includ+          
developm5t ( mat]ials to increase       
und]/&+ ( ! practices & processes       
requir$ to become c]tifi$ z organic2    
7iii7 assi/ance ) applications1         
compliance1 recordkeep+1 & o!r aspects (
 ! organic c]tification process & !     
transition to organic2  7iv7 f9ancial1  
bus9ess1 natural res\rce cons]vation1 & 
f>m plann+2  7v7 support = fair         
contract+2  7vi7 te*nical assi/ance )   
organic managem5t practices1 su* z soil 

heal?1 nutri5t managem5t1 pe/ managem5t1
 & o!r practices1 z det]m9$ appropriate 
by ! ,secret>y2  7vii7 by 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]s1 & agricultural indu/ry        
entities1 su* z se$ deal]s1 equipm5t    
suppli]s1 & input suppli]s2  7viii7 by  
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%ip2  7ix7 by assi/+     
produc]s ) access+ res\rces & fund+ =   
programs associat$ ) organic managem5t1 
includ+ cons]vation programs1 risk      
managem5t tools1 & organic support &    
rese>* programs2  7x7 by e/abli%+ or    
exp&+ coop]atives1 organic gr[] gr\ps1  
c]tifi$ organic process+1 /orage1       
refrig]ation1 freez]1 & di/ribution     

facilities & equipm5t1 food hubs1 food  
security programs1 additional programs  
"u ! ,indig5\s ,food ,sov]eignty        
,initiative ( ! ,dep>tm5t (             
,agriculture1 organic-compliant compo/+ 
s]vices1 & o!r regional food%$ & supply 
*a9 infra/ructure1 su* z infra/ructure =
 gran>ies & meat process+2  7xi7 on-f>m 
rese>*1 includ+ monitor+ biodiv]sity1   
monitor+ air & wat] quality1 measur+    
*anges 9 soil organic c>bon & indicators
 ( soil heal?1 develop+ regionally      
adapt$ se$s & bre$s1 & c>ry+ out trials 
& docum5t+ ! effectiv5ess ( holi/ic     
approa*es to pe/1 we$1 & disease        
control2  7xii7 recruit+ & tra9+ organic
 c]tification /aff & inspectors1 ) an   
emphasis on exp&+ opportunities =       
socially disadvantag$ f>m]s & ran*]s &  
increas+ div]sity 9 ! c]tification      
process2  7xiii7 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*as+ 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%ip72  7xiv7 support+ t5ant f>m]s1 
includ+ ?r\gh leas+ options t s]ve      
t5ants & l&lords long t]m2  7xv7 ho/+ or
 support+ regional conv5tions1          
conf]5ces1 f>m]-l$ tra9+ sessions &     
programs1 field days1 tea*-ins1 & o!r   
educational opportunities focus$ on     
organic production2 &  7xvi7 e/abli%+   
infra/ructure = int]f>m] skill %>+ &    
ex*anges1 includ+ virtual =ums4  7,c7   
,produc] transition & resili5ce fund+   
7i7 ,9 g5]al ,an eligible nonpr(it      
organization t is aw>d$ fund+ "u ?is    
subp>agraph may use ! fund+ to provide  
transition & resili5ce fund+ to exi/+   
organic op]ations1 socially disadvantag$
 f>m]s or ran*]s1 or small or mid-siz$  
f>ms or ran*es4  7ii7 ,t]m  7,i7 ,9     
g5]al ,fund+ provid$ "u ?is subp>agraph 
%all be = a t]m ( #d ye>s4  7,,ii7 #a-"t
 fund+ ,! ,secret>y may n r5ew fund+    
provid$ to a recipi5t "u ?is            

subp>agraph4  7iii7 ,use ( funds ,fund+ 
aw>d$ "u clause 7i7 may be us$ to (fset 
! co/s ( & r$uce b>ri]s to becom+ or    
exp&+ a c]tifi$ organic f>m1 includ+--  
7,i7 creat+ or exp&+ an organic sy/em   
plan 7z def9$ 9 section #bje4b ( title  
#g1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7z 9    
effect on ! date ( enactm5t ( !         
,opportunities 9 ,organic ,act771       
includ+-- 7aa7 complet+ organic         
c]tification docum5ts1 plann+1 &        
recordkeep+2 &  7bb7 develop+ a         
cons]vation plan to address all natural 
res\rces1 includ+ soil heal?2  7,,ii7   
adopt+1 improv+1 or exp&+ organic       
managem5t1 includ+-- 7aa7 elim9at+ ! use
 ( syn!tic pe/icides1 syn!tic f]tiliz]s1
 or antibiotics2  7bb7 ! implem5tation (
 cov] cropp+1 crop rotation1 or         
rotational graz+2  7cc7 ! production &  
use ( compo/ & manure 7includ+ pur*as+  
tools1 supplies1 or /orage72  7dd7 s\rc+
 or produc+ organic se$ & fe$2  7ee7    
h$g][ & ecosy/em enhancem5t plant+ &    
design2  7ff7 pur*as+ supplies =        

int]cropp+ & polycropp+ or o!r          
specializ$ equipm5t = use 9 organic     
managem5t2 &  7gg7 support+ b5eficial   
pr$ators1 poll9ator habitats1 erosion   
prev5tion1 or wat]%$ re/oration2        
7,,iii7 pay+ = co/s associat$ )         
process+1 /orage1 & di/ribution equipm5t
 & facilities2  7,,iv7 c>ry+ out on-f>m 
rese>* to monitor & docum5t ! impacts ( 
transition to organic1 includ+ 9        
p>tn]%ip ) an in/itution ( high]        
education or ano!r entity2  7,v7 soil   
te/+2  7,,vi7 debt relief to improve    
access to capital & f9ancial /ability2  
7,,vii7 =m+ a coop]ative or f>m]-to-f>m]
 network2  7,,viii7 provid+ tra9+ to    
become an organic inspector to exp&     
rev5ue & regional inspection capacity2  
7,,ix7 ov]com+ b>ri]s to l& access1     
includ+ paym5ts to secure long] leases &
 co/s associat$ ) access+ l& t has n be5
 treat$ ) mat]ials prohibit$ = use on a 
c]tifi$ organic f>m or transition+ l& to
 organic managem5t2  7,x7 pay+ = labor  
co/s1 includ+ co/s associat$ )          

improvem5ts to workplace safety1        
comp5sation1 pr(essional developm5t1 &  
/aff tra9+ on transition to organic     
implem5tation2  7,,xi7 improv+ food     
safety practices & obta9+ relat$        
c]tifications2  7,,xii7 provid+ or      
p>ticipat+ 9 organic agriculture        
educational opportunities2  7,,xiii7    
provid+ comp5sation = =egone income dur+
 transition to organic due to %ort-t]m  
*anges 9 yield & limit$ m>ket options2  
7,,xiv7 con/ruction or improvem5t ( h\s+
 = appr5tices1 tra9ees1 or volunte]s or 
o!r on-f>m infra/ructure2 &  7,,xv7     
f9ancial1 bus9ess1 & f>m plann+4  7iv7  
,organic sy/em plan ,z a condition (    
receiv+ fund+ "u ?is subp>agraph to c>ry
 out any ( ! activities describ$ 9      
subclauses 7,,ii7 ?r\gh 7,,xv7 ( clause 
7iii71 an organic op]ation1 socially    
disadvantag$ f>m] or ran*]1 or small or 
mid-siz$ f>m or ran* %all be requir$ to 
develop an organic sy/em plan describ$ 9
 subclause 7,i7 ( t clause4  7,d7       
,organic supply *a9 fund+  7i7 ,9 g5]al 

,an eligible nonpr(it organization t is 
aw>d$ fund+ "u ?is subp>agraph may use !
 fund+ to support organic supply *a9    
developm5t1 includ+ by provid+ ! fund+  
to o!r entities to support organic      
supply *a9 developm5t4  7ii7 ,use (     
funds ,fund+ aw>d$ "u clause 7i7-- 7,i7 
may be us$ to /r5g!n organic capacity or
 exp& access to c]tifi$ organic h&l+    
op]ations1 includ+-- 7aa7 con/ruct+1    
exp&+1 or improv+ access to a c]tifi$   
organic h&l+ op]ation2  7bb7 pur*as+ f>m
 equipm5t1 value add$ supplies1 & o!r   
mat]ials t improve m>ket access2 &  7cc7
 pursu+ organic c]tification = an exi/+ 
h&l+ op]ation2 &  7,,ii7 %all be us$ to 
/r5g!n opportunities 9 organic capacity 
= socially disadvantag$ f>m]s or ran*]s1
 small or mid-siz$ f>ms or ran*es1      
vuln]able agricultural regions 7su* z   
f>ms ne> s*ools1 *ildc>e provid]s1      
resid5tial areas1 & s5sitive ecosy/ems71
 or "u-res\rc$ agricultural regions4    
7,e7 ,communications2 meet+s ,an        
eligible nonpr(it organization t        

receives fund+ "u subp>agraph 7,b71     
7,c71 or 7,d7 %all-- 7i7 communicate n  
less frequ5tly ?an once p] qu>t] ) ea*  
o!r entity aw>d$ fund+ pursuant to ^?   
subp>agraphs-- 7,i7 to monitor progress 
) respect to transition to organic &    
organic supply *a9 developm5t2  7,,ii7  
to address improvem5ts & impacts ( !    
transition to organic1 includ+ obs]v$   
*anges 9 biodiv]sity1 soil heal?1 pe/s1 
we$s1 & disease occurr5ce1 crop yield1 &
 resili5ce2  7,,iii7 to address *all5ges
 associat$ ) transition to organic2     
7,,iv7 to consid] m>ket opportunities & 
! adoption ( additional practices2 &    
7,v7 to explore opportunities =         
coord9at$ f>m team meet+s ) /aff f      
relevant ag5cies & organizations to     
/reaml9e agricultural assi/ance &       
improve f>m viability :ile increas+     
adoption ( on-f>m cons]vation practices2
 &  7ii7 meet n less frequ5tly ?an      
annually = ea* ye> = :i* fund+ is       
provid$ ) /aff ( ! ,dep>tm5t (          
,agriculture 7z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y7 

to discuss program p>ticipation &       
impacts1 demographics & scale (         
p>ticipants1 transition to organic      
success rates1 m>ket opportunities1     
rese>* results1 & *all5ges id5tifi$ 9 ! 
transition to organic4  7#b7 ,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 describ$ 9    
subp>agraph 7,b71 ?r\gh exp&$           
organic-relat$ capacity & p>tn]%ips at--
 7i7 ! ,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  7ii7 univ]sities & educational 
in/itutions1 ) an emphasis on           
in/itutions s]v+ socially disadvantag$  
f>m]s & ran*]s2  7iii7 ! coop]ative     

ext5sion programs ( ! ,secret>y1 includ+
 ! ,f$]ally ,recogniz$ ,tribes ,ext5sion
 ,program2  7iv7 ,/ate1 regional1 &     
,tribal dep>tm5ts ( agriculture2 &  7v7 
eligible nonpr(it organizations4  7,b7  
,au?oriz$ activities ,activities c>ri$  
out ?r\gh ! entities describ$ 9         
subp>agraph 7,a7 %all include-- 7i7     
regional education sessions on organic  
managem5t2  7ii7 ! developm5t (         
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  7iii7    
ongo+ outrea* to & ne$s assessm5t (     
produc]s 9 transition to organic to     
id5tify b>ri]s to organic production &  
me*anisms to address ^? b>ri]s2  7iv7 ! 
id5tification ( priority locations to   
promote transition to organic1 includ+  
ne> s*ools & *ildc>e provid]s1          

resid5tial areas1 & s5sitive ecosy/ems2 
7v7 organic supply *a9 & infra/ructure  
developm5t2  7vi7 ! expansion ( 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 &  7vii7      
advanc+ food wa/e r$uction /rategies t  
support produc] income & soil heal?1    
includ+-- 7,i7 clos$-loop programs t    
connect community compo/+ & food scrap  
collection op]ations ) f>ms2 &  7,,ii7  
coord9ation to maximize use ( f>m       
products1 compo/+1 & wa/e r$uction4  2  
7#h7 9 subsection 7e7 7z s r$esignat$7--
 7,a7 by /rik+ includ+ ! numb] & ins]t+ 
! foll[+3 includ+-- 7#a7 ! numb]  2     
7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#a7 7z s designat$71 by
 /rik+ ! p]iod at ! end & ins]t+ a      
semicolon2 &  7,c7 by add+ at ! end !   
foll[+3  7#b7 ! demographics1 acreage1 &
 sales ( produc] p>ticipants t receiv$  
support "u ! program1 aggregat$ by      
region2  7#c7 ! numb] ( produc]s & h&l]s

 t-- 7,a7 receiv$ support f ! program 9 
! previ\s fiscal ye>2  7,b7 began       
transition to organic2 &  7,c7 a*iev$   
new organic c]tification2  7#d7 any     
b>ri]s to a*iev+ organic c]tification2  
7#e7 ! transition to organic activities 
c>ri$ out by eligible nonpr(it          
organizations & ! metrics us$ to        
evaluate ! success ( ^? activities2     
7#f7 rese>* f9d+s & be/ practices to    
support transition to organic2  7#g7    
*anges 9 organic-relevant capacity at   
public in/itutions ( high] education &  
eligible nonpr(it organizations2 &  7#h7
 *anges 9 availability (                
organic-relevant te*nical assi/ance4  2 
&  7#i7 9 subsection 7f77#a7 7z s       
r$esignat$71 by /rik+ subp>agraphs 7,a71
 7,b71 & 7,c7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7,a7  
#ej1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjbg & 
#bjbh2  7,b7 #hj1jjj1jjj = fiscal ye>   
#bjbi2 &  7,c7 #ajj1jjj1jjj = ea* (     
fiscal ye>s #bjcj & #bjca4  4