S. 4853

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4853 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4853

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

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 22, 2026

Mr. Hoeven (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

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 the period at 
the end and inserting ``; 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) Bard fund accelerator.--The BARD Fund shall establish 
an accelerator program that supports mid-stage research, as 
determined by the technology readiness level, in priority areas 
established by the BARD Fund, and--
``(A) fast-tracks cooperative research between 
scientists participating in BARD Fund activities;
``(B) accelerates the successful development of 
agricultural research through resources and services 
developed or orchestrated by the BARD Fund;
``(C) provides management guidance, technical 
assistance, and consulting to scientists participating 
in activities described in paragraph (2); or
``(D) advances cooperative agricultural research 
projects of mutual interest to the United States and 
Israel.
``(4) 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 2027 
through 2031.''.
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