Federal

SWAT Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 505 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill changes the Plant Protection Act to create a special fund within the Department of Agriculture that pays for research and activities to fight the spotted wing drosophila, an invasive insect from East Asia. The bill aims to address damage this insect has caused to fruit crops across the United States.

Who It Affects

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (the government agency that inspects plants and animals) will directly manage the fund. Eligible recipients approved by the Administrator (the head of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) who receive grants or enter into agreements will be affected. Fruit farmers growing raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, plums, and cherries may benefit from the research and mitigation activities funded.

Key Provisions

* The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service must establish a fund within the Department of Agriculture to pay for research about spotted wing drosophila and activities to reduce the damage it causes (Sec. 420A(a)) * The Administrator must decide which organizations are eligible to receive money from the fund through cooperative agreements or grants (Sec. 420A(b)(1)) * The Administrator must oversee all activities carried out using money from this fund (Sec. 420A(b)(2)) * The government is authorized to spend $6,500,000 for the fund in the first year this law takes effect and $6,500,000 each year for the next four years (Sec. 420A(c))

What Changes

If this bill becomes law, a new fund will be created and money will be made available to pay for research into the spotted wing drosophila and efforts to reduce the damage it causes to fruit crops. Organizations approved by the government will be able to receive grants or enter into agreements to conduct this work.

Important Definitions

* Spotted wing drosophila: an invasive species (a plant or animal that comes from another place and causes damage) from East Asia that damages fruit crops

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

II 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 322 To amend the Plant Protection Act to establish a fund for spotted wing drosophila research and mitigation. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 9, 2023 Mr. PETERS (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. BRAUN, and Mr. MERKLEY) in- troduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Com- mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Plant Protection Act to establish a fund for spotted wing drosophila research and mitigation. 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 ‘‘Spotted Wing Abate- 4 ment Trust Act of 2023’’ or the ‘‘SWAT Act of 2023’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds that— 7 (1) the spotted wing drosophila, an invasive 8 species from East Asia, has caused significant dam- 9 age to many valuable fruit crops in the United 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Feb 22, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S322.IS S322 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •S 322 IS States, including raspberries, blackberries, blue- 1 berries, strawberries, peaches, plums, and cherries; 2 and 3 (2) the Department of Agriculture estimates 4 that spotted wing drosophila account for a combined 5 20 percent revenue loss across strawberry, blueberry, 6 raspberry, blackberry, and cherry crops, based on re- 7 ported yield losses due to that species. 8 SEC. 3. SPOTTED WING DROSOPHILA RESEARCH AND MITI- 9 GATION. 10 Subtitle A of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 11 7711 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol- 12 lowing: 13 ‘‘SEC. 420A. SPOTTED WING DROSOPHILA RESEARCH AND 14 MITIGATION. 15 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Ani- 16 mal and Plant Health Inspection Service (referred to in 17 this section as the ‘Administrator’) shall establish a fund 18 within the Department of Agriculture to fund research re- 19 lating to, and activities to mitigate the negative effects of, 20 spotted wing drosophila. 21 ‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION OF FUND.—The Adminis- 22 trator shall— 23 ‘‘(1) determine eligible recipients to enter into 24 cooperative agreements with, or award grants to, 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Feb 22, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S322.IS S322 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •S 322 IS using amounts in the fund established under sub- 1 section (a); and 2 ‘‘(2) oversee the activities carried out using 3 amounts in that fund. 4 ‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 5 is authorized to be appropriated for the fund established 6 under subsection (a) $6,500,000 for the fiscal year in 7 which the Spotted Wing Abatement Trust Act of 2023 is 8 enacted and each of the 4 fiscal years thereafter.’’. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Feb 22, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S322.IS S322 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.