H.R. 3457

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3457 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3457

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to the feral swine 
eradication and control program, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 15, 2025

Mr. Moore of Alabama (for himself, Ms. Crockett, and Mr. Jackson of 
Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to the feral swine 
eradication and control program, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FERAL SWINE ERADICATION AND CONTROL PROGRAM.

(a) Feral Swine Eradication and Control Program.--Chapter 5 of 
subtitle D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after section 1240M the following:

``SEC. 1240N. FERAL SWINE ERADICATION AND CONTROL PROGRAM.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a feral swine 
eradication and control program (in this section referred to as the 
`program') to respond to the threat feral swine pose to agriculture, 
native ecosystems, and human and animal health.
``(b) Duties of the Secretary.--In carrying out the program, the 
Secretary shall--
``(1) study and assess the nature and extent of damage to 
the threatened areas caused by feral swine;
``(2) develop methods to eradicate or control feral swine 
in the threatened areas;
``(3) develop methods to restore damage caused by feral 
swine; and
``(4) provide financial assistance to agricultural 
producers in threatened areas.
``(c) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide financial assistance 
to agricultural producers under the program to implement methods to--
``(1) eradicate or control feral swine in the threatened 
areas; and
``(2) restore damage caused by feral swine.
``(d) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure that the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service and the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service coordinate for purposes of this section through 
State technical committees established under section 1261(a).
``(e) Contracts With Land-Grant Colleges and Universities.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall direct the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service and the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service to enter into a contract with 1 or more 
land-grant colleges or universities to carry out activities 
under the program.
``(2) Eligible land-grant colleges and universities.--A 
land-grant college or university is eligible to enter into a 
contract under paragraph (1) if such college or university--
``(A) has developed and implemented a system of 
evaluating damages from feral swine and the 
effectiveness of control and eradication efforts;
``(B) shows evidence of a strong working 
relationship with the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service, Wildlife Services; and
``(C) has maintained a State-funded, non-Federal 
Wildlife Services program that has in place an active 
cooperative agreement with the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service, Wildlife Services.
``(3) Role of land-grant college or university.--A land-
grant college or university that enters into a contract under 
paragraph (1) shall provide educational support and assistance 
with control and eradication efforts under the program by--
``(A) identifying, and carrying out research on, 
novel methods of feral swine control and eradication 
and land remediation;
``(B) assisting the Secretary in identifying 
threatened areas;
``(C) coordinating and collaborating with field 
staff, programmatic staff, and research staff within 
the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and
``(D) consulting with the Secretary on the 
establishment of goals and plans for research to be 
carried out under the program.
``(f) Cost Sharing.--
``(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs of 
activities under the program may not exceed 75 percent of the 
total costs of such activities.
``(2) In-kind contributions.--The non-Federal share of the 
costs of activities under the program may be provided in the 
form of in-kind contributions of materials or services.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Land-grant college or university.--The term `land-
grant college or university' has the meaning given the term 
`land-grant colleges and universities' in section 1404 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
``(2) Threatened area.--The term `threatened area' means an 
area of a State in which feral swine have been identified as a 
threat to agriculture, native ecosystems, or human and animal 
health, as determined by the Secretary.
``(h) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds made available under 
section 1241(a)(3)(A), the Secretary shall use to carry out 
this section $150,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2026 
through 2030.
``(2) Distribution of funds.--Of the funds made available 
under paragraph (1)--
``(A) 40 percent shall be allocated to the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service to carry out the 
program, including the provision of financial 
assistance to producers for on-farm trapping and 
technology related to capturing and confining feral 
swine; and
``(B) 60 percent shall be allocated to the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service to carry out the 
program, including the use of established, and testing 
of innovative, population reduction methods.
``(3) Limitation on administrative expenses.--Not more than 
10 percent of funds made available under this section may be 
used for administrative expenses of the program.''.
(b) Repeal.--Section 2408 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 
2018 (7 U.S.C. 8351 note) is repealed.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 2408.
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