[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2354 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2354
To improve access to healthy foods, food processing, housing, forestry,
agricultural research, and other agricultural programs, and Tribal
self-determination relating to those programs, in the State of Alaska,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 18, 2023
Ms. Murkowski introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve access to healthy foods, food processing, housing, forestry,
agricultural research, and other agricultural programs, and Tribal
self-determination relating to those programs, in the State of Alaska,
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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Improving
Agriculture, Research, Cultivation, Timber, and Indigenous Commodities
(ARCTIC) Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
TITLE I--IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS
Sec. 101. Improving micro-grants for food security program.
Sec. 102. Grants and loans for food distribution in frontier
communities.
Sec. 103. Acceptance of SNAP benefits through online transactions for
certain delivery costs.
Sec. 104. Pilot program to purchase locally produced food.
Sec. 105. Wild USA seafood label.
Sec. 106. Market name for genetically engineered fish.
Sec. 107. Market name for cultivated fish.
TITLE II--IMPROVING FOOD PROCESSING
Sec. 201. Forgivable loans for small commercial food processing.
TITLE III--IMPROVING HOUSING
Sec. 301. Denali Housing Fund.
TITLE IV--IMPROVING SEAFOOD INDUSTRY
Sec. 401. Country of origin labeling for cooked crab.
Sec. 402. Eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish.
Sec. 403. Domestic seafood production.
Sec. 404. Grant program to promote the reuse, recycling, and
sustainable use of marine products from
seafood industry.
Sec. 405. Extension of credit to businesses providing services to
producers or harvesters of aquatic
products.
TITLE V--IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
Sec. 501. Funding for agricultural research in States without
Agricultural Research Service facilities.
Sec. 502. Seaweed methane reduction research grants.
Sec. 503. Urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production
research, education, and extension
initiative.
Sec. 504. Reports and regulations on coastal seaweed farming.
TITLE VI--SUPPORTING FORESTRY
Sec. 601. Community wood energy and wood innovation program.
TITLE VII--SUPPORTING UNITED STATES FLORICULTURE
Sec. 701. Limitation on procurement.
TITLE VIII--IMPROVING TRIBAL SELF-DETERMINATION
Sec. 801. Agricultural self-determination and self-governance.
Sec. 802. Buy Indian Act modifications.
Sec. 803. Water systems for Alaska Native villages and rural villages.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
Agriculture.
TITLE I--IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS
SEC. 101. IMPROVING MICRO-GRANTS FOR FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM.
Section 4206 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C.
7518) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), by striking ``competitive
distribution of subgrants'' and inserting ``distribution of
subgrants or other financial assistance'';
(2) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (3);
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and
Other Financial Assistance'' after ``Subgrants'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), in the matter
preceding clause (i), by inserting ``or other
financial assistance provided'' after
``subgrant'';
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B);
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (B); and
(iv) in subparagraph (B) (as so
redesignated), by inserting ``or other
financial assistance provided'' after
``subgrant'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``competitive distribution of
subgrants under subsection (c)'' and inserting
``distribution of subgrants or other financial
assistance under this section''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or
other financial assistance provided'' after
``subgrant'';
(D) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``or other
financial assistance under this section'' after
``subgrants'';
(E) in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or other financial
assistance provided'' after ``subgrant''; and
(F) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``or other
financial assistance'' after ``subgrant''; and
(4) in subsection (f)(1)--
(A) by inserting ``or other financial assistance''
after ``subgrant'' each place it appears; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``subgrants by
eligible entities'' and inserting ``subgrant or other
financial assistance by the eligible entity''.
SEC. 102. GRANTS AND LOANS FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN FRONTIER
COMMUNITIES.
Subtitle A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1922 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 310J. GRANTS AND LOANS FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN FRONTIER
COMMUNITIES.
``(a) Definitions.--
``(1) Eligible community.--The term `eligible community'
means--
``(A) a frontier community that--
``(i) is located in a noncontiguous State;
``(ii) does not have a food bank or food
pantry as of the date of submission of an
application for a grant or loan under this
section; and
``(iii) is determined to be Frontier Level
4 in accordance with the most recent version of
the Frontier and Remote Communities Code
developed by the Economic Research Service; and
``(B) a rural community that--
``(i) is located in a noncontiguous State;
``(ii) does not have a food bank or food
pantry as of the date of submission of an
application for a grant or loan under this
section; and
``(iii) is determined to be Frontier Level
3 in accordance with the most recent version of
the Frontier and Remote Communities Code
developed by the Economic Research Service.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
``(B) a Tribal organization (as defined in section
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); and
``(C) an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and
exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code.
``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program to
provide grants and loans to eligible entities to establish food banks
or food pantries in eligible communities.
``(c) Eligible Activities.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant or loan under subsection (b) may use the grant or loan for--
``(1) the construction or renovation of facilities;
``(2) wages and benefits for employees;
``(3) equipment to keep food and beverages cold or frozen,
as appropriate;
``(4) transportation of foods and beverages from rural hub
communities to outlying villages, including by air, barge, or
surface transportation; and
``(5) such other activities as the Secretary determines to
be appropriate.
``(d) Interest Rate.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the
interest rate of a loan under subsection (b) shall be
established by the Secretary, for each quarter of the
applicable fiscal year, based on the rate prescribed in Rural
Development Instruction 440.1, exhibit B (or a successor
instruction), as in effect on the date on which the loan is
approved.
``(2) Adjustment.--The interest rate established under
paragraph (1) shall be adjusted to the nearest \1/8\ of 1
percent.
``(3) Written request.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1),
before the closing date of a loan under subsection (b),
the eligible entity applying for the loan may submit to
the Secretary a written request that the interest rate
to be charged for the loan be equal to the lesser of--
``(i) the interest rate in effect on the
date of the loan approval; and
``(ii) the interest rate in effect on the
date of the loan closing.
``(B) Temporary debt instruments.--If a request
submitted under subparagraph (A) is approved by the
Secretary providing that the applicable interest rate
shall be the interest rate in effect on the date of the
loan closing, the interest rate charged on a loan
involving multiple advances of Federal funds using
temporary debt instruments shall be the interest rate
in effect on the date on which the first applicable
temporary debt instrument is issued.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000.''.
SEC. 103. ACCEPTANCE OF SNAP BENEFITS THROUGH ONLINE TRANSACTIONS FOR
CERTAIN DELIVERY COSTS.
Section 7(k) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2016(k)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(4)'' and inserting
``(5)'';
(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``except as provided
in paragraph (3),'' before ``ensure'';
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs
(4) and (5), respectively; and
(4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Delivery costs.--Benefits may be used for the fees
and charges described in paragraph (2)(B) in the case of the
purchase of foods that must be delivered to, but not within, a
rural hub community or outlying village in a noncontiguous
State.''.
SEC. 104. PILOT PROGRAM TO PURCHASE LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD.
Section 203D of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C.
7507) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``distribution, to store, handle or
distribute'' and inserting the following:
``distribution--
``(1) to store, handle, or distribute'';
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by
striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and'';
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) to purchase locally produced food in accordance with
the pilot program established under subsection (g).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Pilot Program To Purchase Locally Produced Food.--The
Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary
shall permit emergency feeding organizations participating in the
program authorized by this Act to use those funds to purchase locally
produced food to supplement the commodities provided by the Secretary
under this Act.''.
SEC. 105. WILD USA SEAFOOD LABEL.
Title II of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Subtitle H--Wild USA Seafood Label
``SEC. 298A. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subtitle:
``(1) Fish.--The term `fish' means finfish, mollusks,
crustaceans, and all other forms of aquatic animal and plant
life other than aquatic mammals and birds.
``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
``SEC. 298B. WILD USA SEAFOOD LABEL.
``(a) In General.--A retailer of fish or person engaged in the
business of supplying fish to a retailer may label the fish as `wild
USA seafood', `wild American seafood', or any equivalent designation
only if--
``(1) the fish is--
``(A) naturally born in the wild; or
``(B) a hatchery-originated fish released in the
wild;
``(2) the fish is caught, taken, or harvested from--
``(A) waters within the exclusive economic zone (as
defined in section 107 of title 46, United States
Code); or
``(B) navigable waters (as defined in section 502
of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1362)); and
``(3) if the fish is caught, taken, or harvested by a
vessel, that vessel is a vessel of the United States (as
defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802)).
``(b) Method of Notification.--
``(1) In general.--The information described in subsection
(a) may be provided to consumers by means of a label, stamp,
mark, placard, or other clear and visible sign on the fish, or
on the package, display, holding unit, or bin containing the
fish, at the final point of sale to consumers.
``(2) Labeled commodities.--If fish is already individually
labeled for retail sale with the label described in subsection
(a), the retailer shall not be required to provide any
additional information to comply with this section.
``SEC. 298C. ENFORCEMENT.
``(a) Warnings.--If the Secretary determines that a retailer of
fish or person engaged in the business of supplying fish to a retailer
is in violation of section 298B, the Secretary shall--
``(1) notify the retailer or person of the determination of
the Secretary; and
``(2) provide the retailer or person a 30-day period,
beginning on the date on which the retailer or person receives
the notice under paragraph (1) from the Secretary, during which
the retailer or person may take necessary steps to comply with
section 298B.
``(b) Fines.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may fine a retailer or
person under paragraph (2) if, on completion of the 30-day
period described in subsection (a)(2), the Secretary determines
that the retailer or person--
``(A) has not made a good faith effort to comply
with section 298B; and
``(B) continues to willfully violate section 298B
with respect to the violation regarding which the
retailer or person received a notification under
subsection (a)(1).
``(2) Notice and hearing; amount.--After providing notice
and an opportunity for a hearing before the Secretary with
respect to the violation described in paragraph (1), the
Secretary may fine the retailer or person in an amount equal to
not more than $10,000 for each violation.
``SEC. 298D. REGULATIONS.
``The Secretary may promulgate such regulations as are necessary to
implement this subtitle.''.
SEC. 106. MARKET NAME FOR GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FISH.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding subtitle E of title II of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639 et seq.), or any
other provision of law, for purposes of applying the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), the acceptable market
name of any fish product that is genetically engineered shall include
the words ``Genetically Engineered'' or ``GE'' prior to the existing
acceptable market name.
(b) Genetically Engineered Described.--For purposes of this
section, a fish product shall be considered to be genetically
engineered if the fish product has been modified by recombinant DNA
(rDNA) techniques, including the entire lineage of fish that contain
the rDNA modification.
SEC. 107. MARKET NAME FOR CULTIVATED FISH.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding subtitle E of title II of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639 et seq.) or any other
provision of law, for purposes of applying the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), the acceptable market name of any
fish product that is laboratory-grown shall include the word
``Cultivated'' prior to the existing acceptable market name.
(b) Cultivated Described.--For purposes of this section, a fish
product shall be considered to be cultivated if the fish product is
derived from the harvested cells of fish and grown in a laboratory
setting.
TITLE II--IMPROVING FOOD PROCESSING
SEC. 201. FORGIVABLE LOANS FOR SMALL COMMERCIAL FOOD PROCESSING.
(a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term
``eligible entity'' means an individual or entity that is an
agricultural producer or owns or operates, or seeks to own or operate,
a commercial food processing operation that--
(1) holds a commercial license issued by a noncontiguous
State; and
(2)(A) carries on a farming business (within the meaning of
section 263A(e)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986); or