Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Avian Influenza Research and Response Act”.
Avian Influenza Research and Response Act
A BILL
To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which the Secretary awards grants for purposes of providing training and any related assistance to dairy producers and dairy workers on implementation of risk mitigation strategies related to biosecurity threats, to amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 with respect to emergency assistance for certain losses due to highly pathogenic avian influenza, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Continuing animal health and disease, food security, and stewardship research, education, and extension programs
Section 1433 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3195) is amended—
by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
“(c) Dairy biosecurity education and training program
“(1) In general—The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary will award grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to provide training and any related assistance to dairy producers and dairy workers on implementation of risk mitigation strategies related to biosecurity threats, including strategies such as—
“(A) equipment cleaning;
“(B) interstate and intrastate movement of animals; and
“(C) other risk mitigation measures relating to biosecurity threats.
“(2) Training languages—The Secretary shall ensure that any training or materials provided by an eligible entity using funds received through a grant made under paragraph (1) are provided in English, Spanish, and other languages, as determined necessary by the Secretary.
“(3) Eligible entities—An entity eligible to receive a grant under this subsection is any of the following:
“(A) A State cooperative extension service.
“(B) A Federal, State, local, or Tribal agency.
“(C) A nonprofit, community-based organization or non-governmental organization.
“(D) An organization that—
“(i) represents owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers; and
“(ii) has a commitment to public health and expertise in administering programs that contribute to food safety.
“(E) A farmer-owned cooperative.
“(F) An institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1964 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education.
“(G) A dairy product and business innovation initiative, as described in section 12513 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 1632d).
“(H) A collaboration of 2 of more eligible entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
“(I) Such other appropriate entity, as determined by the Secretary.
“(4) Multistate projects—A grant under this subsection may be made to an eligible entity (or collaboration of 2 or more such entities) proposing to use funds received through the grant for projects involving more than 1 State.
“(5) Geographic distribution—In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure geographic diversity.
“(6) Technical assistance—The Secretary may use funds made available to carry out this subsection to provide technical assistance to grant recipients to further the purposes of this subsection.
“(7) Best practices—Based on evaluations of, and responses arising from, training and other assistance provided pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary may issue a set of recommended best practices and models to be used by dairy producers for training programs relating to mitigation of risks from biosecurity threats.”
in subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))—
in paragraph (1), by striking “$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023” and inserting “$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029”;
by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
“(2) Reservation of funds—Of the funds made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not less than—
“(A) $5,000,000 to carry out the capacity and infrastructure program under subsection (a); and
“(B) $5,000,000 to carry out the program under subsection (c).”
in paragraph (3)—
in subparagraph (B), by striking “85” and inserting “70”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(C) 15 percent of such amounts shall be used to carry out the program under subsection (c).”
Sec. 3 Appropriations for research on national or regional problems
Authorization of appropriations— Section 1434(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(a)) is amended—
by striking “or national or regional” and inserting “emerging animal health or disease programs, and national or regional”; and
by striking “, but not to exceed” and all that follows through “subsequent fiscal year”.
Duration of grants— Section 1434(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(b)) is amended by striking “Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals” and inserting “Federal or State agencies, Tribal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and nonprofit, community-based organizations or non-governmental organizations”.
Priority lists— Section 1434(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(c)) is amended—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—
by striking “Such lists” and all that follows through “of priorities.”; and
by striking “and the Advisory Board”;
in paragraph (4), by striking “and” at the end;
in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(6) whether new approaches for vaccine development may help to reduce negative impacts to animal and human health”
Assignment of priorities— Section 1434(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(d)) is amended by striking the first sentence.
Multiyear grants— Section 1434(e) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(e)) is amended by striking “In the case of” and inserting “A grant under this section shall have a term that is not more than 3 years. In the case of”.
Sec. 4 Highlighting highly pathogenic avian influenza as zoonotic disease for purposes of animal health and production and animal products priority area under Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
Subsection (b)(2)(B)(ix)(II) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)(B)(ix)(II)) is amended by inserting “, highly pathogenic avian influenza,” after “brucellosis”.
Sec. 5 Emergency assistance for certain losses due to highly pathogenic avian influenza
Section 1501(d)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(d)(1)) is amended—
by inserting “(including dairy cattle)” after “producers of livestock”; and
by inserting “and highly pathogenic avian influenza” after “cattle tick fever”.