Plan and transfer of functions of Food for Peace to Department of Agriculture

(a) Statement of policy (1) Purpose The purpose of United States international food assistance programs is to respond to food security crises while supporting the growth of healthier, more stable societies with which the United States can engage in enduring security, development, and trade partnerships and eventually end the need for such assistance. (2) Food for Peace The Food for Peace program under the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) has been, and remains, a critical element of United States international food assistance programs by— (A) providing lifesaving, nutritious agricultural commodities to people in need; (B) enabling small holder farmers to become more resilient to food shocks; (C) catalyzing agriculture-led economic growth; and (D) opening markets for United States agricultural products. (3) Alignment It is the policy of the United States to be fully aligned with the humanitarian, development, and economic growth programs of the United States authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.). (b) Plan and transfer of functions The Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: VII Transfer provisions 701. Definitions In this title: (1) Appropriate committee of Congress The term appropriate committee of Congress includes— (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Plan The term Plan means the transfer and reorganization plan submitted under section 702(a). 702. Plan and transfer of functions (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit a transfer and reorganization plan to the appropriate committees of Congress describing the administration of this Act by the Secretary, including— (1) steps that the Secretary will take to internally reorganize the Department of Agriculture to carry out the functions transferred to it under the Plan in accordance with subsection (b) and other United States international food assistance programs managed by the Department of Agriculture, including— (A) consolidating offices and functions; (B) establishing new offices and functions; and (C) carrying out associated staffing plans for each such office and function, including domestic and overseas recruitment and staffing plans to ensure efficient and effective planning, execution, and monitoring and evaluation of programs; (2) the funds that shall be transferred from the Department of State to the Department of Agriculture to carry out the functions transferred under the Plan; (3) the proposed disposition of the property, facilities, contracts, records, and other assets and liabilities of the Department of State in connection with the transfer of functions under the Plan, if applicable; (4) the actions that are necessary or planned to complete the transfer and reorganization of the applicable programs and funds; (5) the anticipated nature and substance of any orders, directives, and other administrative and operational actions that are expected to be required for completing or implementing the Plan; and (6) any preliminary actions that have been taken to initiate the Plan. (b) Transfer of functions and other authorities Under the Plan, the functions, duties, responsibilities, congressional reporting requirements, and privileges of the Administrator relating to carrying out any authority under this Act shall be carried out by the Secretary. (c) Interim interagency agreement The interagency agreement between the Department of State and the Department of Agriculture relating to administration of this Act as of the date of enactment of this title shall be extended until the Plan has been submitted by the Secretary to the appropriate committees of Congress under subsection (a). (d) Effective date The Plan shall go into effect on the date that is 15 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the Plan to the appropriate committees of Congress under subsection (a). (e) References Any reference to the Administrator or the United States Agency for International Development in any provision of law or regulation relating to the functions, duties, or functions transferred pursuant to the Plan shall be deemed to be a reference to the Secretary or to any department or office of the Department of Agriculture to which the Secretary assigns such functions, duties, or responsibilities, respectively. (f) Authorities Subject to the requirements under this section, any existing statutory authorities available to the Administrator on the date of enactment of this title that have or could have been used by the Administrator to implement the functions, duties, or responsibilities of the United States Agency for International Development relating to implementing or administering this Act shall apply to the Secretary in the manner such authorities applied to the Administrator on the day before the date of enactment of this title. (g) Transfer report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes, with respect to the reporting period, a description of the administration and implementation of this Act by the Secretary, including— (1) the functions, duties, responsibilities, congressional reporting requirements, and privileges that have been transferred to the Department of Agriculture; (2) an implementation and coordination plan, developed in coordination with the Secretary of State, for United States international food security assistance programs managed jointly by the Department of State and the Department of Agriculture; (3) a budget analysis of the estimated costs and potential savings related to the implementation of this Act by the Secretary; and (4) personnel data, including the number of staff hired, detailed, contracted, or working on the program under this Act, including during the duration of the Interagency Agreement described in subsection (c). 703. Coordination The Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of State in carrying out— (1) the authorities under title II in support of the Global Food Security Strategy; and (2) disaster and humanitarian assistance programs..