What This Bill Does
This bill changes how the federal government funds research and programs to help macadamia trees. The bill updates an existing law to allow grants for research and education programs that fight plant pests and harmful weeds that damage macadamia trees.
Who It Affects
Researchers and universities receiving federal grants. Extension programs that teach farming techniques. Areas where macadamia trees are grown or could be affected by invasive pests.
Key Provisions
• The government can give grants to develop science-based tools and treatments to fight plant pests and noxious weeds harming macadamia trees (Sec. 2)
• The government can fund programs to set up integrated pest management systems in areas affected by or at risk from invasive pests or harmful weeds (Sec. 2)
• The government can support research on macadamia tree biology, immunology, ecology, genomics, and bioinformatics to understand and protect the trees (Sec. 2)
• The government can fund research on how pesticides and herbicides affect beneficial insects and plants that help macadamia trees grow, and develop ways to improve farming practices in macadamia growing regions (Sec. 2)
• Congress will provide whatever money is needed to run these programs for fiscal years 2024 through 2035 (Sec. 2)
What Changes
The law will now specifically authorize grants for macadamia tree health research and education programs that were not previously detailed in this section of federal law.
Important Definitions
"Noxious weed" and "plant pest" have the meanings given in section 403 of the Plant Protection Act.
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 372
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
to modify the macadamia tree health initiative, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
Mr. SCHATZ (for himself and Ms. HIRONO) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry
A BILL
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 to modify the macadamia tree health initia-
tive, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Macadamia Tree
4
Health Initiative Amendments Act’’.
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SEC. 2. MACADAMIA TREE HEALTH INITIATIVE.
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Section 1672(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
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tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(d)) is amend-
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ed by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the following:
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•S 372 IS
‘‘(11) MACADAMIA TREE HEALTH INITIATIVE.—
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‘‘(A) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph,
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the terms ‘noxious weed’ and ‘plant pest’ have
3
the meanings given those terms in section 403
4
of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7702).
5
‘‘(B) HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EX-
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TENSION.—Research and extension grants may
7
be made under this section for the purposes
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of—
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‘‘(i) developing and disseminating
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science-based tools and treatments to com-
11
bat plant pests and noxious weeds that im-
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pact macadamia trees;
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‘‘(ii) establishing an areawide inte-
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grated pest management program in areas
15
affected by, or areas at risk of being af-
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fected by, invasive plant pests or noxious
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weeds;
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‘‘(iii) surveying and collecting data on
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macadamia tree production and health;
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‘‘(iv) investigating macadamia tree bi-
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ology, immunology, ecology, genomics, and
22
bioinformatics; and
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‘‘(v) conducting research on various
24
factors that may contribute to or be associ-
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•S 372 IS
ated with macadamia tree immune sys-
1
tems, and other serious threats to maca-
2
damia trees, including—
3
‘‘(I) the sublethal effects of insec-
4
ticides, herbicides, and fungicides on
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beneficial insects and plants to maca-
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damia tree growth; and
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‘‘(II) the development of mitiga-
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tive and preventative measures to im-
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prove habitat conservation and best
10
management practices in macadamia
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tree growing regions.
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‘‘(C)
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
13
TIONS.—There are authorized to be appro-
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priated to carry out this paragraph such sums
15
as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2024
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through 2035.’’.
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Æ
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