[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8676 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8676
To reduce enteric methane emissions, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2024
Ms. Crockett (for herself and Mr. Molinaro) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reduce enteric methane emissions, 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 ``Enteric Methane
Innovation Tools for Lower Emissions and Sustainable Stock Act of
2024'' or the ``EMIT LESS Act of 2024''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
TITLE I--ENABLING ENTERIC METHANE RESEARCH
Sec. 101. Creation of enteric methane product and practice testing
capacity through the Agricultural Research
Service.
Sec. 102. Training programs for enteric methane livestock emissions.
TITLE II--ON-FARM ENTERIC METHANE EMISSION REDUCTIONS
Sec. 201. On-farm conservation innovation trials.
Sec. 202. Review of conservation practice standards.
Sec. 203. Environmental quality incentives program payments.
Sec. 204. Conservation Stewardship Program payments.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
Agriculture.
TITLE I--ENABLING ENTERIC METHANE RESEARCH
SEC. 101. CREATION OF ENTERIC METHANE PRODUCT AND PRACTICE TESTING
CAPACITY THROUGH THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of
the Agricultural Research Service, shall--
(1) establish and operate laboratory and testing facilities
to conduct studies to enhance the understanding of baseline
enteric methane emissions and the safety and efficacy of
enteric methane-mitigating products and practices;
(2) develop the ongoing capacity of personnel of the
Agricultural Research Service with expertise in conducting the
studies described in paragraph (1); and
(3) regularly assess--
(A) baseline enteric methane emissions;
(B) the impacts of enteric methane production on
animal productivity and animal health and welfare; and
(C) the impacts of enteric methane-mitigating
products and practices on greenhouse gas emissions,
animal productivity, and animal health and welfare.
(b) Activities.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of
the Agricultural Research Service, may use amounts made available to
carry out this section, in accordance with subsection (a)--
(1) to construct federally owned testing facilities;
(2) to purchase assessment technologies;
(3) to retrofit or renovate existing facilities; and
(4) to contract with independent or academic facilities to
conduct research.
SEC. 102. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ENTERIC METHANE LIVESTOCK EMISSIONS.
Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting before section 404 (7 U.S.C.
7624) the following:
``SEC. 401. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ENTERIC METHANE LIVESTOCK EMISSIONS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish or expand at
eligible institutions training programs relating to, with respect to
enteric methane emissions from livestock--
``(1) livestock management and nutrition;
``(2) greenhouse gas monitoring, verification, and
reporting technologies;
``(3) testing skills and capacity;
``(4) innovation; and
``(5) livestock health and welfare.
``(b) Eligible Institutions.--
``(1) In general.--An institution eligible for a training
program under this section is an 1862 Institution, an 1890
Institution, or a 1994 Institution.
``(2) Requirement.--The Secretary shall establish or expand
a training program under this section at not less than one 1862
Institution, not less than one 1890 Institution, and not less
than one 1994 Institution.''.
TITLE II--ON-FARM ENTERIC METHANE EMISSION REDUCTIONS
SEC. 201. ON-FARM CONSERVATION INNOVATION TRIALS.
Section 1240H(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3839aa-8(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)--
(A) in subclause (VI), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) by redesignating subclause (VII) as subclause
(VIII); and
(C) by inserting after subclause (VI) the
following:
``(VII) livestock-related practices
that reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
including enteric methane emissions;
and''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) Enteric methane emissions studies.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary
shall carry out one or more studies on changes in
methane emissions and, if feasible, economic outcomes,
generated as a result of livestock-related practices
that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including enteric
methane emissions.
``(B) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this paragraph and annually
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 on the progress and results of
the studies under subparagraph (A).''.
SEC. 202. REVIEW OF CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARDS.
Section 1242(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3842(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Enteric methane emissions.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary
shall--
``(A) complete a review of conservation practice
standards in effect on the day before the date of
enactment of this paragraph to consider any revisions
to conservation practice standards, including for feed
management, or new conservation practice standards that
would be appropriate to assist in reducing enteric
methane emissions;
``(B) revise appropriate conservation practice
standards in effect on the day before the date of
enactment of this paragraph as necessary to assist in
reducing enteric methane emissions; and
``(C) establish any appropriate new conservation
practice standards to assist in reducing enteric
methane emissions.''.
SEC. 203. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM PAYMENTS.
(a) Definitions.--Section 1240A of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa-1) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by inserting ``management'' after ``means a'';
and
(B) by inserting ``land or livestock management''
after ``set of''; and
(2) in paragraph (6)(A)(ii), by inserting ``or livestock''
after ``land''.
(b) Payments.--Section 1240B(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(E), by inserting ``, including
greenhouse gas emission reductions'' before the semicolon; and
(2) in paragraph (7)(A)--
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(B) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and
(C) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
``(iv) provides reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions, including enteric methane emissions
from livestock; or''.
SEC. 204. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM PAYMENTS.
(a) Definition of Conservation Activities.--Section 1240I(2)(B)(i)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-21(2)(B)(i)) is
amended by inserting ``livestock or'' after ``measures, and''.
(b) Supplemental Payments for Resource-Conserving Crop Rotations,
Advanced Grazing Management, and Livestock Feed Management.--Section
1240L(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(d)) is
amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``and Advanced
Grazing Management'' and inserting ``, Advanced Grazing
Management, and Livestock Feed Management'';
(2) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as
subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
``(B) Livestock feed management.--The term
`livestock feed management' means providing livestock
with forage and feed that--
``(i) manipulates and controls the quantity
and quality of available nutrients, feedstuffs,
ingredients, or additives fed to livestock;
``(ii) minimizes excess nutrients in
surface water and ground water by reducing the
quantity of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur,
salts, or other nutrients excreted in manure;
or
``(iii) reduces emissions of ammonia,
odors, greenhouse gases, volatile organic
components, or dust from animal feeding
operations.'';
(3) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) livestock feed management.''; and
(4) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, livestock feed
management,'' after ``crop rotations''.
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