Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Act of 2007 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to: (1) direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to provide behavioral health programs to participants in the agricultural sector in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; and (2) provide grants to states for Network pilot projects.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3751 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3751
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish
and provide for the administration of the Farm and Ranch Stress
Assistance Network.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 4, 2007
Mr. Boswell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish
and provide for the administration of the Farm and Ranch Stress
Assistance Network.
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 ``Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance
Network Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) agriculture continues to be highly stressful, subject
to the vagaries of weather, changing market conditions, and
other factors beyond the control of agricultural producers;
(2) the suicide rate of participants in the agricultural
sector is twice as high as the rate of the general population;
(3) farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and their families,
and communities dependent on agriculture are twice as likely as
the general population to lack health insurance;
(4) behavioral healthcare providers are less available in
agricultural regions; and
(5) due to the factors described in paragraphs (1) through
(4), together with other factors, participants in the
agricultural sector constitute a health disparity group in need
of specialized behavioral health programs that are affordable,
available as needed, and culturally appropriate.
SEC. 3. FARM AND RANCH STRESS ASSISTANCE NETWORK.
Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1981 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 379E. FARM AND RANCH STRESS ASSISTANCE NETWORK.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Corporation.--The term `Corporation' means
AgriWellness, Inc., a nonprofit organization.
``(2) Network.--The term `Network' means the Farm and Ranch
Stress Assistance Network established under subsection (b)(1).
``(b) Network.--
``(1) Establishment.--As soon as practicable after the date
of enactment of this section, the Secretary, in cooperation
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall
establish a network, to be known as the `Farm and Ranch Stress
Assistance Network'.
``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Network shall be to
provide behavioral health programs to participants in the
agricultural sector in the States of--
``(A) Iowa;
``(B) Kansas;
``(C) Minnesota;
``(D) Nebraska;
``(E) North Dakota;
``(F) South Dakota; and
``(G) Wisconsin.
``(3) Administration.--The Secretary shall offer to enter
into a contract with the Corporation under which the
Corporation, in consultation with the Secretary, shall
administer the Network.
``(c) Grant Program.--
``(1) In general.--In administering the Network, the
Corporation shall provide grants to States to carry out pilot
projects to achieve the purpose of the Network.
``(2) Term.--The term of a grant provided under this
subsection shall be 2 years.
``(3) Evaluation.--Not later than 2 years after the date on
which grants are provided under paragraph (1), the Corporation
shall provide for a comprehensive third-party evaluation of,
and submit to Congress a report describing the results of the
evaluation, the extent to which the purpose of the Network has
been achieved by each project that receives a grant under this
subsection.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
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