Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “AANAPISI Opportunity Act”.
AANAPISI Opportunity Act
A BILL
To establish an integrated research, education, and extension competitive grant program and scholarship grant program for certain Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving agricultural institutions, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Grant programs supporting certain Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving agricultural institutions
Definitions— In this section:
Asian American— The term Asian American has the meaning given the term in section 320(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b)).
Covered institution— The term covered institution means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that—
at the time of an application for a grant under this section, has a student body not less than 10 percent of which consists of students who are Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander; and
offers associate, bachelors, or other accredited degree programs in agriculture-related fields.
Native American Pacific Islander— The term Native American Pacific Islander has the meaning given the term in section 320(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b)).
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
Integrated research, education, and extension competitive grants program established—
Competitive grants authorized— Subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out this section, the Secretary may award grants to covered institutions on a competitive basis for integrated agricultural research, education, and extension projects in accordance with this subsection.
Criteria for grants— Grants under this subsection shall be awarded to address priorities in United States agriculture, as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with experts in Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander agricultural issues, that involve integrated research, extension, and education activities.
Matching funds requirement—
In general— Subject to subparagraph (C), with respect to a grant under this subsection that provides a particular benefit to a priority area described in subsection (b)(2) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)), the recipient of the grant shall provide non-Federal matching funds (which may include funds from an agricultural commodity promotion, research, and information program) equal to 50 percent of the amount of the grant.
In-kind support— Non-Federal matching funds described in subparagraph (A) may include in-kind support.
Waiver— The Secretary may waive the matching funds requirement under subparagraph (A) with respect to a grant if the Secretary determines that—
the results of the grant are—
of a particular benefit to a specific agricultural commodity; but
are likely to be applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
the grant—
involves a minor commodity; and
deals with scientifically important research; and
the recipient of the grant is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.
Term of grant— A grant under this subsection shall have a term of not more than 5 years.
Scholarship grant program established—
In general— The Secretary shall make grants to each covered institution for purposes of awarding scholarships to individuals who—
have been accepted for admission to the covered institution;
will be enrolled at the covered institution not later than 1 year after the date of that acceptance; and
intend to pursue a career in agriculture, including in the agricultural disciplines of business, management, economics, engineering, mechanics, production, technology, agronomy, crop science, animal science, botany, food science, forestry, home economics, nutrition, horticulture, natural resources management, soil conservation, soil science, farm and range management, nonmedical biological sciences, preveterinary medicine, computer science, and such other disciplines as the Secretary determines appropriate.
Condition— The Secretary may only award a grant under this subsection to a covered institution if the Secretary determines that the covered institution has established a competitive process for the award of scholarships to individuals described in paragraph (1).
Biennial report— Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report describing—
the amount of funds provided to each covered institution under subsections (a) and (b) during the period covered by the report; and
for each fiscal year covered by the report—
the number of grants awarded under subsection (b); and
the amount of each grant awarded under that subsection; and
the number of scholarships awarded using amounts made available pursuant to each grant provided under subsection (c); and
the amount of each scholarship awarded using those amounts.