Bill Summary
The "American Farmers, Food Banks, and Families Act of 2020" is a bill aimed at promoting an "American agriculture first agenda" by establishing a position of Domestic Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator in the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture. This administrator will work to connect United States farmers with food banks, grocers, and nonprofit food distributors during periods of food scarcity. The bill also calls for the creation of a catalog or data resource to connect farmers with excess agricultural products to food distribution organizations in need of those products. The administrator will also collaborate with representatives from federal agencies and the private sector to identify and remove barriers that prevent farmers from entering their products into the domestic market. This bill also makes amendments to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to accommodate the new position and responsibilities.
Possible Impacts
1. Farmers may have an easier time connecting with food banks, schools, and other organizations in need of agricultural products, which could help reduce food waste and improve food access for those in need.
2. The Secretary of Agriculture may have increased responsibilities and duties, potentially affecting their workload and priorities.
3. The establishment of a Domestic Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator and a team to oversee their work may result in additional expenses for the government and taxpayers.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7554 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7554
To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to
promote an American agriculture first agenda and establish the position
of Domestic Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator in the Office of the
Secretary of Agriculture to connect United States farmers with food
banks, grocers, and nonprofit food distributors during periods of food
scarcity, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2020
Mr. Newhouse introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to
promote an American agriculture first agenda and establish the position
of Domestic Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator in the Office of the
Secretary of Agriculture to connect United States farmers with food
banks, grocers, and nonprofit food distributors during periods of food
scarcity, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Farmers, Food Banks, and
Families Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. DOMESTIC AGRICULTURE SUPPLY CHAIN ADMINISTRATOR.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by inserting after section 216 (7
U.S.C. 6916) the following:
``SEC. 217. DOMESTIC AGRICULTURE SUPPLY CHAIN ADMINISTRATOR.
``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary shall establish in the Office
of the Secretary a position of Domestic Agriculture Supply Chain
Administrator (referred to in this section as the `Administrator').
``(b) Duties.--The Administrator shall--
``(1) carry out activities in the interest of assisting
farmers in entering the products of the farmers into the
domestic market;
``(2) act as a liaison between--
``(A) farmers; and
``(B) food banks, schools, grocers, restaurants,
and other food distribution entities partnered with the
Department or other nonprofit organizations; and
``(3)(A) identify barriers, either regulatory or legal,
that prevent or inhibit farmers from entering the products of
the farmers into the domestic market through food distribution
networks or other entities; and
``(B) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the
means by which to remove the barriers identified under
subparagraph (A).
``(c) Purposes.--The purposes of the Administrator shall be--
``(1) to promote the domestic supply chain; and
``(2) to connect farmers that have excess agricultural
products, whether perishable or nonperishable, with an
appropriate food distribution organization that is in need of
certain agricultural products.
``(d) Team.--The Administrator shall oversee a team composed of--
``(1) a regulatory reform officer;
``(2) an agricultural marketing expert; and
``(3) individuals with private sector experience in the
food distribution network.
``(e) Collaboration.--The Administrator shall convene
representatives of appropriate Federal advisory committees of the
Agricultural Marketing Service, Federal agencies, and members of the
private sector to advise the Administrator in carrying out the duties
described in subsection (b).
``(f) Existing Position.--To the extent practicable, the
Administrator shall be an additional role of an existing position, and
not a new position, within the Office of the Secretary.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 296(b) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(11) The authority of the Secretary to carry out the
amendments made to this title by the American Farmers, Food
Banks, and Families Act of 2020''.
(c) Technical Correction.--Subtitle A of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by redesignating
section 225 (7 U.S.C. 6925) as section 224A.
SEC. 3. CATALOG TO CONNECT FARMERS AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION ORGANIZATIONS.
The Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with private sector
entities, shall establish a catalog or data resource that is capable of
recording--
(1) farms that have excess agricultural products; and
(2) food distribution organizations that are in need of
certain agricultural products.
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