Feral swine eradication and control program

(a) In general Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by inserting after section 1240M (16 U.S.C. 3839bb) the following: 1240N. Feral swine eradication and control program (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a feral swine eradication and control program (referred to in this section as the program) to respond to the threat feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and human and animal health. (b) Duties of the Secretary In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall— (1) study and assess the nature and extent of damage caused by feral swine to the areas described in subsection (e); (2) develop methods to eradicate or control feral swine in those areas; (3) develop methods to restore damage caused by feral swine; and (4) provide financial assistance to agricultural producers in those areas. (c) Assistance The Secretary may provide financial assistance to agricultural producers under the program to implement methods— (1) to eradicate or control feral swine in the areas described in subsection (e); and (2) to restore damage caused by feral swine. (d) Coordination The Secretary shall ensure that the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service coordinate for purposes of this section through State technical committees established under section 1261(a). (e) Areas The Secretary shall carry out the program in areas of States in which feral swine have been identified as a threat to agriculture, native ecosystems, or human or animal health, as determined by the Secretary. (f) Cost sharing (1) Federal share The Federal share of the costs of activities under the program may not exceed 75 percent of the total costs of such activities. (2) In-kind contributions The non-Federal share of the costs of activities under the program may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions of materials or services. (g) Funding (1) Mandatory funding Of the funds made available under section 1241(a)(3)(A), the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $150,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. (2) Distribution of funds Of the funds made available under paragraph (1)— (A) 40 percent shall be allocated to the Natural Resources Conservation Service to carry out the program, including the provision of financial assistance to producers for on-farm trapping and technology related to capturing and confining feral swine; and (B) 60 percent shall be allocated to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to carry out the program, including the use of established, and testing of innovative, population reduction methods. (3) Limitation on administrative expenses Not more than 10 percent of funds made available under this section may be used for administrative expenses of the program.. (b) Repeal (1) In general Section 2408 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 8351 note; Public Law 115–334) is repealed. (2) Clerical amendment The table of contents for the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–334; 132 Stat. 4491) is amended by striking the item relating to section 2408. (c) Termination of program Effective on the date of enactment of this Act, the feral swine eradication and control pilot program under section 2408 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 8351 note; Public Law 115–334) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act) shall cease to be effective. (d) Transitional provisions (1) Effect on existing financial assistance The cessation of effectiveness under subsection (c) shall not affect the validity or terms of any financial assistance made by the Secretary under section 2408 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 8351 note; Public Law 115–334) before the date of enactment of this Act, or any payments, modifications, or technical assistance required to be made in connection with the financial assistance. (2) Extension permitted Notwithstanding subsection (c), the Secretary may extend for 1 year financial assistance described in paragraph (1) if that financial assistance expires on or before December 31, 2026, under the terms and payment rate of the existing financial assistance and in accordance with section 2408 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 8351 note; Public Law 115–334) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act). (3) Renewal not permitted (A) In general Notwithstanding paragraph (1), and subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may not renew financial assistance described in that paragraph. (B) Exception The Secretary may renew financial assistance described in paragraph (1)— (i) if that financial assistance expires on or after December 31, 2026; (ii) under the terms of the feral swine eradication and control program under section 1240N of the Food Security Act of 1985 (as added by subsection (a)); and (iii) subject to the limitation on funding under subsection (g) of that section. (e) Contract administration Subject to subsection (d)(3), the Secretary shall administer financial assistance described in subsection (d)(1) until the expiration of the financial assistance in accordance with the regulations to carry out the feral swine eradication and control pilot program under section 2408 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 8351 note; Public Law 115–334) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act) that are in effect on the day before that date of enactment. (f) Funding of existing financial assistance Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c), any funds made available from the Commodity Credit Corporation under section 2408(g) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 8351 note; Public Law 115–334) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act) for fiscal years 2019 through 2026 shall be available to carry out— (1) financial assistance described in subsection (d)(1) for fiscal year 2027; (2) financial assistance extended under subsection (d)(2); and (3) financial assistance under 1240N of the Food Security Act of 1985 (as added by subsection (a)).