H.R. 441

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 441 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 441 To improve drought related disaster assistance programs of the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 15, 2025 Ms. Letlow introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To improve drought related disaster assistance programs of the Department of Agriculture, 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. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Drought Assistance Improvement Act''. SEC. 2. LIVESTOCK FORAGE DISASTER PROGRAM. Section 1501(c)(3)(D)(ii)(I) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(c)(3)(D)(ii)(I)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``at least 8 consecutive'' and inserting the following: ``not less than-- ``(aa) 4 consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period for the county, as determined by the Secretary, shall be eligible to receive assistance under this paragraph in an amount equal to 1 monthly payment using the monthly payment rate determined under subparagraph (B); or ``(bb) 8 consecutive''; and (2) in item (bb) (as so designated), by striking ``1 monthly payment'' and inserting ``2 monthly payments''. SEC. 3. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR LIVESTOCK, HONEY BEES, AND FARM-RAISED FISH PROGRAM. (a) Documentation Standards.--Section 1501(d) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(d)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``drought,'' after ``adverse weather,''; (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``adverse weather or drought,'' after ``disease,''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(5) Documentation standards.--For purposes of this subsection, the Secretary, in consultation with eligible producers of farm-raised fish, shall establish a documentation standard for each of the following: ``(A) Collecting data. ``(B) Production of crawfish, as related to reductions in harvest. ``(C) Defining loss conditions due to drought.''. (b) Reduced Crawfish Harvest Eligibility.--Subsection 1501(d)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(d)(2)) is further amended by inserting ``and loss of crawfish harvest due to adverse weather or drought'' after ``cattle tick fever''. <all>