H.R. 7587

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7587 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7587

To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 to modify the BARD Fund, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 13, 2026

Mr. Vindman 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 modify the BARD Fund, 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 ``United States-Israel Agriculture 
Cooperation Improvement and Expansion Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) the United States-Israel Binational Agricultural 
Research and Development Fund (referred to in this section as 
the ``BARD Fund'')--
(A) was established in 1977; and
(B) is a competitive funding program that supports 
collaborative agricultural research in areas of mutual 
interest to the United States and Israel;
(2) the primary mission of the BARD Fund is to bring 
together United States and Israeli scientists to jointly 
address key agricultural and food production challenges that 
concern both countries;
(3) since its establishment, the BARD Fund has approved 
more than 1,300 research projects, with a total investment of 
$315,000,000 that has gained $16 for every $1 spent; and
(4) research funded by the BARD Fund has led to new 
agricultural practices, commercial engagements, patents, and 
breeding rights licenses, which serve as a growth engine to the 
United States and Israeli economies.

SEC. 3. BARD FUND.

Section 1458(e) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``entered into'' and 
inserting ``as entered into in 1977'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the 
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``sector.'' 
and inserting ``sector in the United States, Israel, 
signatories of the Abraham Accords Declaration, done at 
Washington September 15, 2020, Arab States that have 
normalized relations with Israel, and other interested 
nations; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) support mid-stage research to advance 
cooperative agricultural research projects of mutual 
interest to the United States and Israel.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated to the BARD Fund to carry out activities 
under this subsection $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 
through 2030.''.

SEC. 4. BARD FUND ACCELERATOR.

Section 1458 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
``(f) Bard Fund Accelerator.--The BARD Fund shall establish an 
accelerator program that supports midstage research, as determined by 
the technology readiness level, in priority areas established by the 
BARD Fund that--
``(1) fast-tracks cooperative research between scientists 
participating in activities described in paragraph (e)(2);
``(2) accelerates the successful development of 
agricultural research through resources and services developed 
by the BARD Fund;
``(3) provides management guidance, technical assistance, 
and consulting to scientists participating in activities 
described in paragraph (2); or
``(4) advances cooperative agricultural research projects 
of mutual interest to the United States, Israel, or other 
signatories of the Abraham Accords Declaration.
``(g) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the BARD fund to carry out activities under this 
subsection $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.''.
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