Sec. 10006. Farm and ranch mental health
371 words·~2 min read·
/bill/116/hr/6395/enr/section-10006·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall carry out a public service announcement campaign to address the mental health of farmers and ranchers. The public service announcement campaign under paragraph
(1)shall include television, radio, print, outdoor, and digital public service announcements. The Secretary of Agriculture may enter into a contract or other agreement with a third party to carry out the public service announcement campaign under paragraph (1). In awarding a contract under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Agriculture shall use a competitive bidding process. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out this subsection $3,000,000, to remain available until expended. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of Agriculture shall expand the pilot program carried out by the Secretary of Agriculture in fiscal year 2019 that trained employees of the Farm Service Agency in the management of stress experienced by farmers and ranchers, to train employees of the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the management of stress experienced by farmers and ranchers, including the detection of stress and suicide prevention. Not less frequently than once every 2 years, the Secretary of Agriculture 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 describing the implementation of this subsection. The Secretary of Agriculture shall convene a task force of agricultural and rural stakeholders at the national, State, and local levels— to assess the causes of mental stress in farmers and ranchers; and to identify best practices for responding to that mental stress. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the task force convened under paragraph
(1)shall submit to the Secretary of Agriculture a report containing the assessment and best practices under subparagraphs
(A)and (B), respectively, of paragraph (1). In carrying out this subsection, the task force convened under paragraph
(1)shall collaborate with nongovernmental organizations and State and local agencies. Any authorities provided under this section shall cease to be in effect on October 1, 2023.