H.R. 7142

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7142 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7142

To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 to extend and permanently authorize the Agriculture 
Advanced Research and Development Authority, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 16, 2026

Mr. Panetta (for himself and Mr. Feenstra) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 to extend and permanently authorize the Agriculture 
Advanced Research and Development Authority, 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 ``Advancing Cutting Edge Agriculture 
Act'' or the ``ACE Agriculture Act''.

SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF AGARDA.

Section 1473H of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319k) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``pilot'';
(2) in subsection (a)(6), by striking ``growing,'' and 
inserting ``growing (including water conservation technologies 
and innovation),'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``pilot'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as 
follows:
``(B) to overcome the long term and high-risk 
technological barriers in the development of 
agricultural technologies, research tools, and 
qualified products and projects that enhance export 
competitiveness, environmental sustainability, water 
conservation, the reduction, avoidance, sequestration, 
or mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, and 
resilience to extreme weather, drought, infectious 
diseases, plant and animal pathogens, and plant and 
animal pests;''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``or 
economic cost'' after ``financial 
uncertainty'';
(C) in paragraph (3)(B)--
(i) in clause (ii), in the matter preceding 
subclause (I), by striking ``advise the Chief 
Scientist on, and''; and
(ii) by amending clause (iii) to read as 
follows:
``(iii) Relationship within the department 
of agriculture.--
``(I) Chief scientist.--The 
Director shall report to the Chief 
Scientist.
``(II) Other programs.--No other 
official who is the head of any other 
program of the Department of 
Agriculture shall report to the 
Director.'';
(D) in paragraph (6), by striking ``pilot'' each 
place it appears in subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
(E) by amending paragraph (9) to read as follows:
``(9) Personnel matters.--
``(A) In general.--The Director shall establish and 
maintain within the AGARDA a staff with sufficient 
qualifications and expertise to enable the AGARDA to 
carry out the responsibilities of the AGARDA under this 
section in conjunction with other operations of the 
Department of Agriculture.
``(B) Use of existing personnel authorities.--In 
carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may appoint 
highly qualified individuals to scientific or 
professional positions on the same terms and conditions 
as provided in subsections (b)(3), (b)(4), (c), (d), 
(e), and (f) of section 620 of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 
(7 U.S.C. 7657).'';
(4) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Use of strategic plan.--The Secretary shall use the 
strategic plan developed under paragraph (1) to inform the 
administration of the AGARDA under this section.'';
(5) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (C);
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$50,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting 
``$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 
2032''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Other funding.--In addition to amounts otherwise made 
available to carry out this section, the Secretary may use to 
carry out this section other funds available to the Secretary 
for any other purpose.
``(5) Clarification.--Nothing in paragraph (2) or (4) 
authorizes the use of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation to carry out this section.''; and
(6) by striking subsection (e).
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