Equip Ag Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 351 To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to lend Department of Defense farm equipment to eligible farmers, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 8, 2019 Mr. YOHO (for himself, Mr. JONES, and Mr. DUNN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to lend Department of Defense farm equipment to eligible farmers, 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 ‘‘Equip Ag Act of 4 2019’’. 5 SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FARM EQUIPMENT 6 SHARING PILOT PROGRAM. 7 (a) SURVEY OF DOD EQUIPMENT.—Not later than 8 one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Jan 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H351.IH H351 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 351 IH Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary 1 of Agriculture, shall conduct a survey of the equipment 2 of the Department of Defense to determine which such 3 equipment— 4 (1) would be appropriate for use by farmers 5 through an equipment sharing program; and 6 (2) could be used in an equipment sharing pro- 7 gram without jeopardizing military readiness. 8 (b) PILOT PROGRAM.— 9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 10 shall establish a pilot program under which the Sec- 11 retary shall lend equipment of the Department iden- 12 tified pursuant to the survey carried out under sub- 13 section (a) to eligible farmers. 14 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to borrow 15 equipment under the pilot program, a farmer shall— 16 (A) be a new and beginning farmer, as de- 17 termined by the Secretary; and 18 (B) submit to the Secretary an application 19 containing such information and assurances as 20 the Secretary may require. 21 (3) LOCATION.—The Secretary shall carry out 22 the pilot program at locations determined by the 23 Secretary. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Jan 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H351.IH H351 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 351 IH (4) DURATION.—The authority to carry out a 1 pilot program under this section shall terminate on 2 the date that is three years after the date of the 3 commencement of the pilot program. 4 (5) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the 5 termination of the pilot program under this sub- 6 section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a re- 7 port on the pilot program that includes the rec- 8 ommendations of the Secretary with respect to the 9 extension and expansion of the program. 10 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Jan 19, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H351.IH H351 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS