Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Agriculture and Food Protection Bill” or the “HR 4155 IH”.

Sec. 101. Definitions

(a) In this section, the term:

• Area of high risk for agricultural biosecurity threats
• The areas that pose the greatest threat to the agricultural and food systems.

Sec. 102. Establishment of a National Agricultural Biosecurity Center

(a) In this section, the term:

• Agricultural biosecurity center
• A center that provides research, training, and other support to address agricultural biosecurity threats.

Sec. 103. Agricultural Biosecurity Research

(a) The Secretary shall carry out a program of research on:

• Agricultural biosecurity threats
• The causes, effects, and prevention of agricultural biosecurity threats.

Sec. 104. Agricultural Biosecurity Education

(a) The Secretary shall carry out a program of education on:

• Agricultural biosecurity
• The importance of agricultural biosecurity in protecting the food and agriculture systems.

Sec. 105. Support for State Agricultural Experiment Stations

(a) In this section, the term:

• State agricultural experiment station
• A state-funded institution that conducts research and provides education on agriculture.

Sec. 106. Support for National Laboratories

(a) In this section, the term:

• National laboratory
• A national facility that conducts research and provides expertise on a specific area.

Sec. 107. Grants for Agricultural Biosecurity Research

(a) The Secretary shall award grants to:

• Eligible entities
• The State agricultural experiment stations, national laboratories, and other eligible entities.

Sec. 108. Authorization of Appropriations

(a) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2026: $10,000,000.

Sec. 109. Effective Date

This section shall take effect on January 1, 2027.

SEC. 3. Agriculture and Food Protection Grant Program

Section 1485 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1485. Agriculture and Food Protection Grant Program

(a) The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary will award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to support research, extension, and education activities that improve the capacity of the United States to protect the food and agricultural system from:

• A chemical, biological, cybersecurity, or bioterrorism attack
• The causes, effects, and prevention of such attacks.

Sec. 1486. Use of Funds

(a) An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use funds received through the grant:

• To encourage basic and applied research on qualified agricultural countermeasures
• The development of effective methods for preventing, detecting, and responding to agricultural biosecurity threats.

Sec. 1487. Promoting Teaching Programs in Agriculture

(a) The Secretary shall carry out a program of education on:

• Agricultural biosecurity and cybersecurity
• The importance of these topics in protecting the food and agriculture systems.

Sec. 1488. Support for Teaching Programs at Colleges and Universities

(a) The Secretary shall carry out a program of education on:

• Agricultural biosecurity and cybersecurity
• The importance of these topics in protecting the food and agriculture systems.

Sec. 1489. Authorization of Appropriations

(a) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.