7 U.S.C. § 5936a — Support for farm stress programs

Page 1816 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 5936a ‘‘(B) REQUIREMENT.—In awarding a contract under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Agriculture shall use a competitive bidding process. ‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Ag- riculture to carry out this subsection $3,000,000, to re- main available until expended. ‘‘(b) EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAM TO MANAGE FARM- ER AND RANCHER STRESS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection [Jan. 1, 2021], the Secretary of Agriculture shall expand the pilot pro- gram carried out by the Secretary of Agriculture in fiscal year 2019 that trained employees of the Farm Service Agency in the management of stress experi- enced by farmers and ranchers, to train employees of the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the management of stress experienced by farmers and ranchers, including the detection of stress and suicide prevention. ‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not less frequently than once every 2 years, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Rep- resentatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nu- trition, and Forestry of the Senate a report describ- ing the implementation of this subsection. ‘‘(c) TASK FORCE FOR ASSESSMENT OF CAUSES OF MEN- TAL STRESS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR RESPONSE.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall convene a task force of agricultural and rural stakeholders at the national, State, and local levels— ‘‘(A) to assess the causes of mental stress in farm- ers and ranchers; and ‘‘(B) to identify best practices for responding to that mental stress. ‘‘(2) SUBMISSION OF REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the task force convened under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary of Agriculture a report containing the assessment and best practices under subpara- graphs (A) and (B), respectively, of paragraph (1). ‘‘(3) COLLABORATION.—In carrying out this sub- section, the task force convened under paragraph (1) shall collaborate with nongovernmental organiza- tions and State and local agencies. ‘‘(d) CESSATION OF AUTHORITIES.—Any authorities provided under this section shall cease to be in effect on October 1, 2023.’’ DEFINITION OF ‘‘SECRETARY’’ ‘‘Secretary’’ as meaning the Secretary of Agri- culture, see section 8701 of this title. § 5936a. Support for farm stress programs (a) In general The Secretary shall make grants to State de- partments of agriculture (or such equivalent de- partment) to expand or sustain stress assistance programs for individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations, including— (1) programs that meet the criteria specified in section 5936(b)(1) of this title; and (2) any State initiatives carried out as of De- cember 27, 2020, that provide stress assistance for such individuals. (b) Grant timing and amount In making grants under subsection (a), not later than 60 days after December 27, 2020, and subject to subsection (c), the Secretary shall— (1) make awards to States submitting State plans that meet the criteria specified in para- graph (1) of such subsection within the time period specified by the Secretary; and (2) of the amounts made available under sub- section (f), allocate among such States, an amount to be determined by the Secretary, which in no case may exceed $500,000 for each State. (c) State plan (1) In general A State department of agriculture seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary a State plan to expand or sustain stress assistance programs described in that subsection that includes— (A) a description of each activity and the estimated amount of funding to support each program and activity carried out through such a program; (B) an estimated timeline for the oper- ation of each such program and activity; (C) the total amount of funding sought; and (D) an assurance that the State depart- ment of agriculture will comply with the re- porting requirement under subsection (e). (2) Guidance Not later than 20 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall issue guidance for States with respect to the submission of a State plan under paragraph (1) and the alloca- tion criteria under subsection (b). (3) Reallocation If, after the first grants are awarded pursu- ant to allocation under subsection (b), any funds made available under subsection (f) to carry out this subsection remain unobligated, the Secretary shall— (A) inform States that submit plans as de- scribed in subsection (b), of such avail- ability; and (B) reallocate such funds among such States, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate and equitable. (d) Collaboration The Secretary may issue guidance to encour- age State departments of agriculture to use funds provided under this section to support pro- grams described in subsection (a) that are oper- ated by— (1) Indian tribes (as defined in section 5304 of title 25); (2) State cooperative extension services; and (3) nongovernmental organizations. (e) Reporting Not later than 180 days after the COVID–19 public health emergency ends, each State re- ceiving additional grants under subsection (b) shall submit a report to the Secretary describ- ing— (1) the activities conducted using such funds; (2) the amount of funds used to support each such activity; and (3) the estimated number of individuals served by each such activity. (f) Funding Out of the funds of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to carry out this section $28,000,000, to remain available until expended. Page 1817 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 5939 (g) State defined In this section, the term ‘‘State’’ means— (1) a State; (2) the District of Columbia; (3) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and (4) any other territory or possession of the United States. (Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title VII, § 766, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2118.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was enacted as part of the Consolidated Ap- propriations Act, 2021, and not as part of subtitle H of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 which comprises this subchapter. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries DEFINITIONS Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title VII, § 760, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2109, provided that: ‘‘In this chapter [chapter 2 (§§ 760–766) of subtitle B of title VII of div. N of Pub. L. 116–260, enacting this section and sections 217b and 9071a of this title and section 473 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 9056 of this title]: ‘‘(1) The term ‘COVID–19’ means the disease caused by SARS–CoV–2, or any viral strain mutating there- from with pandemic potential. ‘‘(2) The term ‘COVID–19 public health emergency’ means the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under sec- tion 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID–19 (or any renewal of that declaration). ‘‘(3) The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Agriculture.’’ § 5937. Natural products research program (a) In general The Secretary shall establish within the De- partment a natural products research program. (b) Duties In carrying out the program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate research relating to natural products, includ- ing— (1) research to improve human health and agricultural productivity through the dis- covery, development, and commercialization of products and agrichemicals from bioactive natural products, including products from plant, marine, and microbial sources; (2) research to characterize the botanical sources, production, chemistry, and biological properties of plant-derived natural products; and (3) other research priorities identified by the Secretary. (c) Peer and merit review The Secretary shall— (1) determine the relevance and merit of re- search under this section through a system of peer review established by the Secretary pur- suant to section 7613 of this title; and (2) approve funding for research on the basis of merit, quality, and relevance to advancing the purposes of this section. (d) Buildings and facilities Funds made available under this section shall not be used for the construction of a new build- ing or facility or the acquisition, expansion, re- modeling, or alteration of an existing building or facility (including site grading and improve- ment and architect fees). (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023. (Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7525, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1273; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7525, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2035; Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7515, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 903; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7413, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4819.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246. Section was enacted as part of the Food, Conserva- tion, and Energy Act of 2008, and not as part of subtitle H of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 which comprises this subchapter. AMENDMENTS 2018—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted ‘‘2023’’ for ‘‘2018’’. 2014—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–79 amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for each of fis- cal years 2008 through 2012.’’ Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Enactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title. DEFINITION OF ‘‘SECRETARY’’ ‘‘Secretary’’ as meaning the Secretary of Agri- culture, see section 8701 of this title. § 5938. Repealed. Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7518, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 904 Section, Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7529, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1278; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7529, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2040, related to agricultural and rural transportation research and education. § 5939. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Re- search (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Board The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Board of Direc- tors described in subsection (e). (2) Department The term ‘‘Department’’ means the Depart- ment of Agriculture. (3) Foundation The term ‘‘Foundation’’ means the Founda- tion for Food and Agriculture Research estab- lished under subsection (b). (4) Secretary The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Agriculture.