What This Bill Does
This bill creates a cacao tree health initiative to fund research and grants focused on protecting cacao trees from pests and diseases. The bill changes an existing law from 1990 to add this new cacao research program and extends funding authorization.
Who It Affects
Researchers and scientists who receive grants for cacao tree research and extension work. Cacao farmers and growers in the United States. Agencies that manage agricultural research programs.
Key Provisions
• Research and extension grants may fund the development and sharing of science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests that affect cacao trees (Sec. 2(a)).
• Grants may establish integrated pest management programs for cacao trees in areas affected by or at risk from pests (Sec. 2(a)).
• Grants may fund surveying and data collection on cacao tree production, health and markets (Sec. 2(a)).
• Grants may support research on cacao tree biology, ecology, genetics and production systems (Sec. 2(a)).
• Grants may fund research on resilient cacao production, including selecting cacao varieties with market advantages and best management practices in different climate conditions (Sec. 2(a)).
• Grants may support research on serious threats to cacao trees, including harmful effects of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides on beneficial insects and tree growth (Sec. 2(a)).
What Changes
The bill extends funding authorization to 2034 instead of 2023 (Sec. 2(b)).
Important Definitions
Plant pests: Not defined in this bill text. The bill references the definition in the Plant Protection Act.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1454
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
to establish a cacao tree health initiative, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 8, 2023
Mrs. GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N (for herself and Ms. TOKUDA) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 to establish a cacao tree health initiative,
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 ‘‘Cacao Tree Health
4
Initiative Act of 2023’’.
5
SEC. 2. CACAO TREE HEALTH INITIATIVE.
6
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1672(d) of the Food, Ag-
7
riculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
8
5925(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
9
VerDate Sep 11 2014
21:58 Mar 21, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1454.IH
H1454
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2
•HR 1454 IH
‘‘(21) CACAO TREE HEALTH INITIATIVE.—Re-
1
search and extension grants may be made under this
2
section for the purposes of—
3
‘‘(A) developing and disseminating science-
4
based tools and treatments to combat plant
5
pests (as defined in section 403 of the Plant
6
Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7702)) that affect
7
cacao trees;
8
‘‘(B) establishing an integrated pest man-
9
agement program for cacao trees in areas af-
10
fected by or at risk of being affected by such
11
pests;
12
‘‘(C) surveying and collecting data on
13
cacao tree production, health, and markets;
14
‘‘(D) investigating cacao tree biology, ecol-
15
ogy, genomics, and production systems;
16
‘‘(E) conducting research on factors that
17
may contribute to, or be associated with, resil-
18
ient cacao production systems, including—
19
‘‘(i) the selection and propagation of
20
cacao tree varieties that improve the mar-
21
ket advantage of cacao grown in the
22
United States; and
23
VerDate Sep 11 2014
21:58 Mar 21, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1454.IH
H1454
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3
•HR 1454 IH
‘‘(ii) best management practices in
1
cacao-growing regions under various cli-
2
mate conditions; and
3
‘‘(F) conducting research on factors that
4
may contribute to, or be associated with, seri-
5
ous threats to cacao trees, including the sub-
6
lethal effects of insecticides, herbicides, and
7
fungicides on beneficial insects and cacao tree
8
growth.’’.
9
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section
10
1672(h) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
11
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(h)) is amended by
12
striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2034’’.
13
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
21:58 Mar 21, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1454.IH
H1454
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS