7 U.S.C. § 6934 — Office of Partnerships and Public Engage-

Page 1930 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 6934 1 See References in Text note below. fairs, and legislative affairs, may be provided by a consolidation of such functions under the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Pro- duction and Conservation. (2) Minimum provisions Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other provision of law or order of the Secretary, the Secretary shall provide the Office of Risk Management with human and capital re- sources sufficient for the Office to carry out its functions in a timely and efficient manner. (Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 226A, as added Pub. L. 104–127, title I, § 194(a), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 945; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, §§ 12405(a), 12415(a), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4975, 4981.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The Federal Crop Insurance Act, referred to in sub- sec. (b)(2), (3), is subtitle A of title V of act Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, 52 Stat. 72, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 1501 et seq.) of chapter 36 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1501 of this title and Tables. AMENDMENTS 2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12415(a), sub- stituted ‘‘The Secretary’’ for ‘‘Subject to subsection (e), the Secretary’’. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12405(a), substituted ‘‘Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation’’ for ‘‘Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services’’. § 6934. Office of Partnerships and Public Engage- ment (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Beginning farmer or rancher The term ‘‘beginning farmer or rancher’’ has the meaning given the term in section 1991(a) of this title. (2) Office The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Office of Part- nerships and Public Engagement established under this section. (3) Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher The term ‘‘socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher’’ has the meaning given the term in section 2279(e) 1 of this title. (b) Establishment and purpose (1) In general The Secretary shall establish within the ex- ecutive operations of the Department an office to be known as the ‘‘Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement’’— (A) to improve access to programs of the Department; (B) to improve the viability and profit- ability of— (i) small farms and ranches; (ii) beginning farmers or ranchers; (iii) socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; (iv) limited resource producers; and (v) veteran farmers and ranchers; and (C) to promote youth outreach. (2) Director The Office shall be headed by a Director, to be appointed by the Secretary from among the competitive service. (c) Duties The duties of the Office shall be to ensure small farms and ranches, beginning farmers or ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers, and so- cially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers access to, and equitable participation in, programs and services of the Department by— (1) establishing and monitoring the goals and objectives of the Department to increase participation in programs of the Department by small, beginning, socially disadvantaged, or veteran farmers or ranchers; (2) assessing the effectiveness of Department outreach programs; (3) developing and implementing a plan to coordinate outreach activities and services provided by the Department; (4) providing input to the agencies and of- fices on programmatic and policy decisions; (5) measuring outcomes of the programs and activities of the Department on small farms and ranches, beginning farmers or ranchers, veteran farmers or ranchers, and socially dis- advantaged farmers or ranchers programs; (6) recommending new initiatives and pro- grams to the Secretary; and (7) carrying out any other related duties that the Secretary determines to be appro- priate. (d) Socially disadvantaged farmers group (1) Establishment The Secretary shall establish within the Of- fice the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Group. (2) Outreach and assistance The Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Group— (A) shall carry out section 2279 of this title; and (B) in the case of activities described in section 2279(a) 1 of this title, may conduct such activities through other agencies and offices of the Department. (3) Socially disadvantaged farmers and farm- workers The Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Group shall oversee the operations of— (A) the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers established under section 14009 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008; 1 and (B) the position of Farmworker Coordi- nator established under subsection (f). (4) Other duties (A) In general The Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Group may carry out other duties to im- prove access to, and participation in, pro- grams of the Department by socially dis- advantaged farmers or ranchers, as deter- mined by the Secretary. Page 1931 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 6934 (B) Office of Outreach and Diversity The Office of Partnerships and Public En- gagement shall carry out the functions and duties of the Office of Outreach and Diver- sity carried out by the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights as such functions and duties existed immediately before the date of the enactment of this section. (e) Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group (1) Establishment The Secretary shall establish within the Of- fice the Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group. (2) Duties (A) Oversee offices The Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group shall oversee the oper- ations of the Office of Small Farms Coordi- nation established by Departmental Regula- tion 9700–1 (August 3, 2006). (B) Beginning farmer and rancher develop- ment program The Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group shall consult with the National Institute for Food and Agriculture on the administration of the beginning farm- er and rancher development grant program established under subsection (d) of section 2279 of this title. (C) Advisory Committee for Beginning Farm- ers and Ranchers The Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group shall coordinate the ac- tivities of the Group with the Advisory Com- mittee for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers established under section 5(b) of the Agricul- tural Credit Improvement Act of 1992 (7 U.S.C. 1621 1 note; Public Law 102–554). (D) Other duties The Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group may carry out other du- ties to improve access to, and participation in, programs of the Department by small farms and ranches and beginning farmers or ranchers, as determined by the Secretary. (f) Farmworker Coordinator (1) Establishment The Secretary shall establish within the Of- fice the position of Farmworker Coordinator (referred to in this subsection as the ‘‘Coordi- nator’’). (2) Duties The Secretary shall delegate to the Coordi- nator responsibility for the following: (A) Assisting in administering the pro- gram established by section 5177a of title 42. (B) Serving as a liaison to community- based nonprofit organizations that represent and have demonstrated experience serving low-income migrant and seasonal farm- workers. (C) Coordinating with the Department, other Federal agencies, and State and local governments to ensure that farmworker needs are assessed and met during declared disasters and other emergencies. (D) Consulting within the Office and with other entities to better integrate farm- worker perspectives, concerns, and interests into the ongoing programs of the Depart- ment. (E) Consulting with appropriate institu- tions on research, program improvements, or agricultural education opportunities that assist low-income and migrant seasonal farmworkers. (F) Assisting farmworkers in becoming ag- ricultural producers or landowners. (3) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection— (A) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013; and (B) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023. (Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 226B, as added Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14013(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1450, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XIV, § 14013(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2212; amended Pub. L. 113–79, title XII, § 12202, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 984; Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, §§ 12301(a)(2)(A), 12406(a)(1), (b), (c), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4950, 4975, 4976.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Subsecs. (a) and (e) of section 2279 of this title, re- ferred to in subsecs. (a)(3) and (d)(2)(B), were redesig- nated subsecs. (c) and (a), respectively, of section 2279 of this title by section 12301(b)(3) of Pub. L. 115–334. Section 14009 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(A), probably means section 14008 of Pub. L. 110–246, which is set out as a note under section 2279 of this title, because sec- tion 14008 of the Act established the Advisory Com- mittee on Minority Farmers and section 14009 of the Act amended section 7000 of this title. The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (d)(4)(B), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–246, which was approved June 18, 2008. Section 5(b) of the Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992, referred to in subsec. (e)(2)(C), is section 5(b) of Pub. L. 102–554, which is set out as a note under section 1929 of this title. 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. AMENDMENTS 2018—Pub. L. 115–334, § 12406(a)(1)(A), substituted ‘‘Partnerships and Public Engagement’’ for ‘‘Advocacy and Outreach’’ in section catchline. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12406(a)(1)(B), sub- stituted ‘‘Partnerships and Public Engagement’’ for ‘‘Advocacy and Outreach’’. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12406(a)(1)(B), sub- stituted ‘‘Partnerships and Public Engagement’’ for ‘‘Advocacy and Outreach’’ in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(iv), (v), (C). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12406(b)(1), added cls. (iv) and (v) of subpar. (B) and subpar. (C). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12406(b)(2)(A), inserted ‘‘veteran farmers and ranchers,’’ after ‘‘beginning farm- ers or ranchers,’’ in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12406(b)(2)(B), sub- stituted ‘‘socially disadvantaged, or veteran’’ for ‘‘or socially disadvantaged’’. Page 1932 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 6934a Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12406(b)(2)(C), inserted ‘‘veteran farmers or ranchers,’’ after ‘‘beginning farm- ers or ranchers,’’. Subsec. (d)(4)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12406(a)(1)(B), sub- stituted ‘‘Partnerships and Public Engagement’’ for ‘‘Advocacy and Outreach’’. Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12406(a)(2)(A), sub- stituted ‘‘the beginning farmer and rancher develop- ment grant program established under subsection (d) of section 2279 of this title.’’ for ‘‘the beginning farmer and rancher development program established under section 3319f of this title.’’ Subsec. (f)(3)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12406(c), substituted ‘‘2023’’ for ‘‘2018’’. 2014—Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 113–79 amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012.’’ Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12406(a)(2), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4976, provided that: ‘‘Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2018], any reference to the Office of Advocacy and Outreach established under section 226B of the Department of Agriculture Reorga- nization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6934) in any provision of Federal law shall be deemed to be a reference to the Of- fice of Partnerships and Public Engagement.’’ 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. § 6934a. Beginning farmer and rancher coordina- tion (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Beginning farmer or rancher The term ‘‘beginning farmer or rancher’’ has the meaning given such term in section 2279(a) of this title. (2) National Coordinator The term ‘‘National Coordinator’’ means the National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coor- dinator established under subsection (b)(1). (3) State coordinator The term ‘‘State coordinator’’ means a State beginning farmer and rancher coordinator des- ignated under subsection (c)(1)(A). (4) State office The term ‘‘State office’’ means— (A) a State office of— (i) the Farm Service Agency; (ii) the Natural Resources Conservation Service; (iii) the Rural Business-Cooperative Service; or (iv) the Rural Utilities Service; or (B) a regional office of the Risk Manage- ment Agency. (b) National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Co- ordinator (1) Establishment The Secretary shall establish in the Depart- ment the position of National Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinator. (2) Duties (A) In general The National Coordinator shall— (i) advise the Secretary and coordinate activities of the Department on programs, policies, and issues relating to beginning farmers and ranchers; and (ii) in consultation with the applicable State food and agriculture council, deter- mine whether to approve a plan submitted by a State coordinator under subsection (c)(3)(B). (B) Discretionary duties Additional duties of the National Coordi- nator may include— (i) developing and implementing new strategies— (I) for outreach to beginning farmers and ranchers; and (II) to assist beginning farmers and ranchers with connecting to owners or operators that have ended, or expect to end within 5 years, actively owning or operating a farm or ranch; and (ii) facilitating interagency and inter- departmental collaboration on issues re- lating to beginning farmers and ranchers. (3) Reports Not less frequently than once each year, the National Coordinator shall distribute within the Department and make publicly available a report describing the status of steps taken to carry out the duties described in subpara- graphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2). (4) Contracts and cooperative agreements In carrying out the duties under paragraph (2), the National Coordinator may enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with an in- stitution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20), cooperative extension services (as defined in section 3103 of this title), or a nonprofit organization— (A) to conduct research on the profit- ability of new farms in operation for not less than 5 years in a region; (B) to develop educational materials; (C) to conduct workshops, courses, train- ing, or certified vocational training; or (D) to conduct mentoring activities. (c) State beginning farmer and rancher coordi- nators (1) In general (A) Designation The National Coordinator, in consultation with State food and agriculture councils and directors of State offices, shall designate in each State a State beginning farmer and rancher coordinator from among employees of State offices. (B) Requirements To be designated as a State coordinator, an employee shall— (i) be familiar with issues relating to be- ginning farmers and ranchers; and (ii) have the ability to coordinate with other Federal departments and agencies.