Veterans’ Agricultural Apprenticeship Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 562 To establish a Department of Agriculture loan program to support mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities for veterans of the Armed Forces to become farmers or ranchers. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 15, 2019 Mr. BOST (for himself and Mr. LAWSON of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi- sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To establish a Department of Agriculture loan program to support mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities for veterans of the Armed Forces to become farmers or ranchers. 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 ‘‘Veterans’ Agricultural 4 Apprenticeship Act of 2019’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:10 Jan 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H562.IH H562 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 562 IH SEC. 2. MENTORSHIP AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM 1 FOR VETERANS OF THE ARMED FORCES TO 2 BECOME FARMERS AND RANCHERS. 3 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Agri- 4 culture shall establish a program to make direct loans to 5 farmers and ranchers who will provide mentorship and ap- 6 prenticeship opportunities for veterans of the Armed 7 Forces to learn the skills necessary to become a successful 8 farmer or rancher. 9 (b) AGREEMENTS WITH STATES.—The Secretary of 10 Agriculture shall carry out the mentorship and apprentice- 11 ship program through agreements with State departments 12 of agriculture that will— 13 (1) select veterans to participate in the pro- 14 gram; 15 (2) secure established farmers and ranchers to 16 provide the mentorship and apprenticeship opportu- 17 nities; and 18 (3) make and administer direct loans to support 19 the resulting mentorship and apprenticeship. 20 (c) ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT.—As a condition of a loan 21 under the mentorship and apprenticeship program, a par- 22 ticipating veteran must be allowed to materially and sub- 23 stantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch 24 providing the mentorship and apprenticeship opportuni- 25 ties. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:10 Jan 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H562.IH H562 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HR 562 IH (d) TERMS OF LOANS.— 1 (1) INTEREST RATE.—A loan under the 2 mentorship and apprenticeship program shall be 3 made without interest. 4 (2) TERM AND REPAYMENT.—The term of a 5 loan under the program may not exceed one year 6 and the loan shall be repaid after the harvest season 7 in such installments as the Secretary may require. 8 (e) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—Of the amounts appro- 9 priated for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to fund 10 operation of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, the 11 Secretary shall use $1,000,000 each of such fiscal years 12 to carry out this section. 13 (f) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.—Not later 14 than March 1, 2023, the Comptroller General of the 15 United States shall submit to the Committee on Agri- 16 culture of the House of Representatives and the Com- 17 mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen- 18 ate a report evaluating the effectiveness of the mentorship 19 and apprenticeship program in assisting veterans who par- 20 ticipate in the program in becoming farmers and ranchers. 21 (g) VETERAN DEFINED.—In this section, the term 22 ‘‘veteran’’ means an individual who has served in the 23 Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(10) of title 38, 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:10 Jan 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H562.IH H562 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HR 562 IH United States Code) and who has not previously operated 1 a farm or ranch. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:10 Jan 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H562.IH H562 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS