US Congress House Bill 3286 (Prior Session Legislation)

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November 18 2011 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act of 2011 - Provides for the inclusion of locally or regionally produced agricultural food products under specified agricultural, rural development, agricultural research, crop insurance, and nutrition programs. Directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to offer a whole farm adjusted revenue risk management insurance plan that allows a producer to qualify for an indemnity if actual gross farm revenue is below 85% of the producer's average gross farm revenue. Prohibits the Corporation from requiring organic crop insurance premium surcharges. Directs the Corporation to offer organic crop producers price elections that reflect actual retail or wholesale prices. Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (formerly known as the Food Stamp Act of 1977) to require state agencies to treat wireless retailers in the same manner as wired program retail food stores for purposes of supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP, formerly food stamp) benefits. Defines "wireless retailer" to include: (1) a farmers market, (2) a farm stand, (3) a green cart, (4) a route vendor, (5) an entity operating a community-supported agriculture or fishery program, (6) a buying club, and (7) a farmer affiliated with such entities. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a wireless retailer electronic benefit transfer pilot program for smartphone technology. Extends: (1) the program of fresh fruit and vegetable purchases for distribution to schools and service institutions; (2) the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC) farmers' market nutrition program; (3) the seniors farmers' market nutrition program; (4) the rural business opportunity grant program; (5) the value-added agricultural product market development grant program; (6) the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative; (7) the specialty block grant program; and (8) the national organic certification cost-share program. Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to permit schools to use an amount equal to 15% of their commodity dollars for purchases of locally grown food. Increases the annual fiscal year limit for community food project grants. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary to make and guarantee loans for the production of locally or regionally produced agricultural food products. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to evaluate how the credit needs of young, beginning, and small farmers and local and regional farm and food systems are being met by the Farm Credit System, USDA, the Department of the Treasury, and any other federal agencies. Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to direct: (1) the Secretary to distribute price reporting of locally or regionally produced agricultural food products, and (2) the Under Secretary to establish a special initiative to coordinate USDA research relating to classical plant and animal breeding. Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to direct the Secretary to increase technical assistance for sustainable local and regional food systems. Amends the the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 to establish the local marketing promotion program (in lieu of the farmers market promotion program) to promote producer-to-consumer marketing, including farmers markets and other local and regional food markets. Directs the Secretary to establish in the Food Safety and Inspection Service technical assistance divisions to provide directly or through grants outreach, education, and training to very small or certain small meat and poultry processing plants. Directs the Secretary to establish an electronic option for meat and poultry label preapproval. Amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to provide funding for the national food safety training, education, outreach, and technical assistance program.

Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act of 2011

Rep Pingree, Chellie	Rep Berman, Howard L.	Rep Blumenauer, Earl	Rep Bonamici, Suzanne
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z.	Rep Boswell, Leonard L.	Rep Capps, Lois	Rep Carnahan, Russ
Rep Carson, Andre	Rep Cicilline, David N.	Rep Clarke, Hansen	Rep Courtney, Joe
Rep Cummings, Elijah E.	Rep Davis, Susan A.	Rep DeFazio, Peter A.	Rep Edwards, Donna F.
Rep Ellison, Keith	Rep Eshoo, Anna G.	Rep Farr, Sam	Rep Filner, Bob
Rep Frank, Barney	Rep Fudge, Marcia L.	Rep Grijalva, Raul M.	Rep Hahn, Janice
Rep Hastings, Alcee L.	Rep Heinrich, Martin	Rep Higgins, Brian	Rep Hinchey, Maurice D.
Rep Hirono, Mazie K.	Rep Holt, Rush D.	Rep Honda, Michael M.	Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr.
Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr.	Rep Kaptur, Marcy	Rep Keating, William R.	Rep Kind, Ron
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J.	Rep Langevin, James R.	Rep Lee, Barbara	Rep Lewis, John
Rep Lipinski, Daniel	Rep Lujan, Ben Ray	Rep Maloney, Carolyn B.	Rep Markey, Edward J.
Rep Matsui, Doris O.	Rep McCollum, Betty	Rep McDermott, Jim	Rep McGovern, James P.
Rep McIntyre, Mike	Rep Michaud, Michael H.	Rep Moore, Gwen	Rep Moran, James P.
Rep Nadler, Jerrold	Rep Napolitano, Grace F.	Rep Neal, Richard E.	Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes
Rep Olver, John W.	Rep Owens, William L.	Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr.	Rep Price, David E.
Rep Richardson, Laura	Rep Rothman, Steven R.	Rep Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho	Rep Sanchez, Linda T.
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D.	Rep Sewell, Terri A.	Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh	Rep Speier, Jackie
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete	Rep Thompson, Mike	Rep Tierney, John F.	Rep Tonko, Paul D.
Rep Towns, Edolphus	Rep Tsongas, Niki	Rep Velazquez, Nydia M.	Rep Walz, Timothy J.
Rep Welch, Peter	Rep Woolsey, Lynn C.

Date	Chamber	Action
2011-11-18	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
2011-11-01	House	Referred to House Education and the Workforce
2011-11-01	House	Referred to House Agriculture
2011-11-01	House	Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

SB1773 (Related) 2011-11-01 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Type	Source
Summary	http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:HN03286:@@@L&summ2=m&
Text	http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr3286ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr3286ih.pdf