,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dbcf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #bf1 #bjbf,ms4 ,murkowski 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,king1 ,mr4 ,sullivan1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 and ,ms4 ,collins7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act to expand eligibility of ,department of ,agriculture loans and grants for fishing and mariculture businesses1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,american ,seafood ,competitiveness ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,department of ,agriculture loans and grants for fishing and mariculture businesses 7a7 ,definitions of farmer and farming ,section #cdc7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aiia7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking farming4 and inserting farming1 commercial fishing1 or fish processing42 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking farming4 and inserting farming1 commercial fishing1 and fish processing42 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#ad7 ,commercial fishing ,the term commercial fishing means fishing 7as defined in section #c of the ,magnuson-,stevens ,fishery ,conservation and ,management ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjb77 in which the fish harvested1 either in whole or in part1 are intended to enter commerce or enter commerce through sale1 barter1 or trade4 7#ae7 ,commercial fishing vessel ,the term commercial fishing vessel means a fishing vessel and a fish processing vessel 7as those terms are defined in section #baja of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code74 7#af7 ,fish ,the term fish has the meaning given the term in section #baja of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#ag7 ,fish processing ,the term fish processing means the processing of fish for commercial use or consumption4 7#ah7 ,fish processing facility ,the term fish processing facility means a facility or vessel1 boat1 ship1 or other craft used or equipped for fish processing4 4 7b7 ,farm ownership loans 7#a7 ,eligibility ,section #cjb7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aibb7;a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 ,eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish ,notwithstanding any other provision of this ,act1 for purposes of direct and guaranteed farm loans under this subtitle-- 7,a7 the terms farmer and rancher shall include an individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing2 and 7,b7 the terms farm and ranch shall include-- 7i7 a commercial fishing vessel2 and 7ii7 a fish processing facility4 4 7#b7 ,purposes ,section #cjc7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aibc7;a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 ,commercial fishery participants2 fish processors 7,a7 ,commercial fishery participants ,an individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing may only use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for-- 7i7 acquiring a commercial fishing permit2 7ii7 acquiring a commercial fishing vessel2 and 7iii7 making capital improvements to a commercial fishing vessel4 7,b7 ,fish processors ,an individual or entity engaged in fish processing may use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for acquiring or making capital improvements to a fish processing facility4 4 7c7 ,farm operating loans 7#a7 ,eligibility ,section #caa7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aida7;a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 ,eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish ,notwithstanding any other provision of this ,act1 for purposes of direct and guaranteed farm loans under this subtitle-- 7,a7 the terms farmer and rancher shall include an individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing2 and 7,b7 the terms farm and ranch shall include-- 7i7 a commercial fishing vessel2 and 7ii7 a fish processing facility4 4 7#b7 ,purposes ,section #cab of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aidb7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,commercial fishery participants2 fish processors 7#a7 ,commercial fishery participants ,an individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing may only use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for the costs associated with operating and maintaining a commercial fishing vessel4 7#b7 ,fish processors ,an individual or entity engaged in fish processing may use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for the costs associated with operating and maintaining a fish processing facility4 4 7d7 ,local agriculture market program 7#a7 ,farmers' markets and local food promotion program ,section #baj;,a7d77#f7 of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afbg;c7d77#f77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,f7 ,eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish ,for purposes of this paragraph-- 7i7 an agricultural commodity or product described in subsection 7a77#ab7 shall include fish 7as defined in section #baja of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code7 that is caught1 taken1 or harvested from the wild2 and 7ii7 the eligible activities described in paragraph 7#b7 shall include domestic seafood marketing4 4 7#b7 ,waiver of matching funds requirements ,section #baj;,a7i7 of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afbg;c7i77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 ,waiver of matching funds requirements ,the ,secretary may waive a requirement for a recipient of a grant under this section to provide matching funds1 or reduce the amount of matching funds required to be provided1 if the recipient is engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing 7as those terms are defined in section #cdc7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aiia7;a7774 4 7e7 ,implementation and coordination 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure the successful and effective integration of individuals and entities in the commercial fishing industry1 including those engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing 7as those terms are defined in section #cdc7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aiia7;a7771 into each program of the ,department of ,agriculture for which those individuals and entities are made eligible under the amendments made by this section4 7#b7 ,technical assistance and guidance ,in carrying out paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall-- 7,a7 provide outreach and technical assistance to participants in the commercial fishing industry1 including through cooperative agreements and public-private and other partnerships1 to promote awareness of and access to relevant programs2 7,b7 provide guidance and training to relevant agency personnel of the ,department of ,agriculture1 including through cooperative agreements and public-private and other partnerships1 to ensure program services are effectively delivered to the commercial fishing industry2 and 7,c7 coordinate1 as appropriate1 with the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration and other relevant ,federal and ,state agencies to implement the amendments made by this section4 #c4 ,extension of credit to businesses providing services to producers or harvesters of aquatic products 7a7 ,farm credit banks 7#a7 ,eligibility for credit and financial services ,section #a4i of the ,farm ,credit ,act of #aiga 7#ab ,u4,s4,c4 #bjag7 is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking or at the end2 7,b7 by redesignating paragraph 7#c7 as paragraph 7#d72 and 7,c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#b7 the following3 7#c7 persons furnishing to producers or harvesters of aquatic products services directly related to their operating needs2 or 4 7#b7 ,purposes for extensions of credit ,section #a4aa7;c77#a7 of the ,farm ,credit ,act of #aiga 7#ab ,u4,s4,c4 #bjai7;c77#a77 is amended by inserting and to persons furnishing services directly related to the operating needs of producers or harvesters of aquatic products after needs4 7b7 ,production credit associations ,section #b4d7;a7 of the ,farm ,credit ,act of #aiga 7#ab ,u4,s4,c4 #bjge7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 persons furnishing to producers or harvesters of aquatic products services directly related to their operating needs4 4