PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must give grants to State agriculture departments to start or keep up stress-help programs for people who farm, ranch, or work in related farm jobs. Grants can pay for programs that meet certain program rules and for any state stress-help programs already running on December 27, 2020. The Secretary must begin awarding grants within 60 days after December 27, 2020, and no State can get more than $500,000 from the money set aside. A State must send a short plan to get a grant. The plan must describe each activity, how much money each needs, how long each will run, the total request, and promise to follow reporting rules. The Secretary must give plan and allocation guidance within 20 days after December 27, 2020, and may reassign unused funds to other States. The Secretary can encourage using funds to support tribal programs, cooperative extension services, and nongovernmental groups. Each State that gets extra grant money must report within 180 days after the COVID‑19 public health emergency ends on what was done, how money was spent, and how many people were helped. Congress set aside $28,000,000 from the Treasury for these grants, available until spent. "State" means a State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories or possessions.

Title 7, §5936a

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Secretary shall make grants to State departments of agriculture (or such equivalent department) to expand or sustain stress assistance programs for individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations, including—

(1)programs that meet the criteria specified in section 5936(b)(1) of this title; and

(2)any State initiatives carried out as of December 27, 2020, that provide stress assistance for such individuals.

(b)Grant timing and amount

In making grants under subsection (a), not later than 60 days after December 27, 2020, and subject to subsection (c), the Secretary shall—

(1)make awards to States submitting State plans that meet the criteria specified in paragraph (1) of such subsection within the time period specified by the Secretary; and

(2)of the amounts made available under subsection (f), allocate among such States, an amount to be determined by the Secretary, which in no case may exceed $500,000 for each State.

(c)State plan

(1)In general

A State department of agriculture seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary a State plan to expand or sustain stress assistance programs described in that subsection that includes—

(A)a description of each activity and the estimated amount of funding to support each program and activity carried out through such a program;

(B)an estimated timeline for the operation of each such program and activity;

(C)the total amount of funding sought; and

(D)an assurance that the State department of agriculture will comply with the reporting requirement under subsection (e).

(2)Guidance

Not later than 20 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall issue guidance for States with respect to the submission of a State plan under paragraph (1) and the allocation criteria under subsection (b).

(3)Reallocation

If, after the first grants are awarded pursuant to allocation under subsection (b), any funds made available under subsection (f) to carry out this subsection remain unobligated, the Secretary shall—

(A)inform States that submit plans as described in subsection (b), of such availability; and

(B)reallocate such funds among such States, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate and equitable.

(d)Collaboration

The Secretary may issue guidance to encourage State departments of agriculture to use funds provided under this section to support programs described in subsection (a) that are operated by—

(1)Indian tribes (as defined in section 5304 of title 25);

(2)State cooperative extension services; and

(3)nongovernmental organizations.

(e)Reporting

Not later than 180 days after the COVID–19 public health emergency ends, each State receiving additional grants under subsection (b) shall submit a report to the Secretary describing—

(1)the activities conducted using such funds;

(2)the amount of funds used to support each such activity; and

(3)the estimated number of individuals served by each such activity.

(f)Funding

Out of the funds of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to carry out this section $28,000,000, to remain available until expended.

(g)State defined

In this section, the term “State” means—

(1)a State;

(2)the District of Columbia;

(3)the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and

(4)any other territory or possession of the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and not as part of subtitle H of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 which comprises this subchapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title VII, § 760, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2109, provided that: “In this chapter [chapter 2 (§§ 760–766) of subtitle B of title VII of div. N of Pub. L. 116–260, enacting this section and section 217b and 9071a of this title and section 473 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 9056 of this title]: “(1) The term ‘COVID–19’ means the disease caused by SARS–CoV–2, or any viral strain mutating therefrom with pandemic potential. “(2) The term ‘COVID–19 public health emergency’ means the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID–19 (or any renewal of that declaration). “(3) The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Agriculture.”

§5936a Support for Farm Stress Programs

Summary

Title 7, §5936a

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Citations & Metadata