H.R. 2822

Equip Ag Act of 2017

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I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2822

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 7, 2017

Mr. Yoho (for himself, Mr. O'Halleran, Mr. Jones, Mr. Soto, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Pittenger, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Banks of Indiana) 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Equip Ag Act of 2017.

2.

Department of Defense farm equipment sharing pilot program

(a)

Survey of DOD equipment

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall conduct a survey of the equipment of the Department of Defense to determine which such equipment—

(1)

would be appropriate for use by farmers through an equipment sharing program; and

(2)

could be used in an equipment sharing program without jeopardizing military readiness.

(b)

Pilot program

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall lend equipment of the Department identified pursuant to the survey carried out under subsection (a) to eligible farmers.

(2)

Eligibility

To be eligible to borrow equipment under the pilot program, a farmer shall—

(A)

be a new and beginning farmer, as determined by the Secretary; and

(B)

submit to the Secretary an application containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require.

(3)

Location

The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at locations determined by the Secretary.

(4)

Duration

The authority to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date of the commencement of the pilot program.

(5)

Report

Not later than 60 days after the termination of the pilot program under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program that includes the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to the extension and expansion of the program.