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House Bill 562
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Veterans’ Agricultural Apprenticeship Act of 2019
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Jan 15, 2019
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Introduced in House 
Jan 15, 2019
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Introduced in House(Jan 15, 2019)
Jan 15, 2019
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Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
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H. R. 562 (Introduced-in-House)


116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 562


To establish a Department of Agriculture loan program to support mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities for veterans of the Armed Forces to become farmers or ranchers.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 15, 2019

Mr. Bost (for himself and Mr. Lawson of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To establish a Department of Agriculture loan program to support mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities for veterans of the Armed Forces to become farmers or ranchers.

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 “Veterans’ Agricultural Apprenticeship Act of 2019”.

SEC. 2. Mentorship and apprenticeship program for veterans of the Armed Forces to become farmers and ranchers.

(a) Program required.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program to make direct loans to farmers and ranchers who will provide mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities for veterans of the Armed Forces to learn the skills necessary to become a successful farmer or rancher.

(b) Agreements with States.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out the mentorship and apprenticeship program through agreements with State departments of agriculture that will—

(1) select veterans to participate in the program;

(2) secure established farmers and ranchers to provide the mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities; and

(3) make and administer direct loans to support the resulting mentorship and apprenticeship.

(c) Active involvement.—As a condition of a loan under the mentorship and apprenticeship program, a participating veteran must be allowed to materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch providing the mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities.

(d) Terms of loans.—

(1) INTEREST RATE.—A loan under the mentorship and apprenticeship program shall be made without interest.

(2) TERM AND REPAYMENT.—The term of a loan under the program may not exceed one year and the loan shall be repaid after the harvest season in such installments as the Secretary may require.

(e) Source of funds.—Of the amounts appropriated for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to fund operation of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary shall use $1,000,000 each of such fiscal years to carry out this section.

(f) Comptroller general report.—Not later than March 1, 2023, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report evaluating the effectiveness of the mentorship and apprenticeship program in assisting veterans who participate in the program in becoming farmers and ranchers.

(g) Veteran defined.—In this section, the term “veteran” means an individual who has served in the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(10) of title 38, United States Code) and who has not previously operated a farm or ranch.