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NSF and USDA Interagency Research Act
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities focused on the joint advancement of Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation mission requirements and priorities, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation to establish collaborative research and development activities addressing their shared mission priorities. The agencies would coordinate through memoranda of understanding and focus on areas such as agricultural biology, food security, rural development, artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, and workforce development. The bill authorizes the agencies to support research infrastructure, establish centers for agricultural research and education, and promote collaboration among federal agencies, universities, nonprofits, and private sector entities. Within two years, the agencies must report to Congress on their coordination efforts, research achievements, and opportunities for continued collaboration.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
4 cosponsors
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to James R. Baird’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NICOSON FARMING INC $6,600
- RELENTLESS DEALER SERVICES $3,300
- GAYLOR ELECTRIC, INC. $3,300
- SHEIN TECHNOLOGY $2,500
- ENTREPRENEUR $2,500
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for James R. Baird → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Jun 4, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
- Jun 4, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 4, 2025
Mr. Baird (for himself and Ms. Salinas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities focused on the joint advancement of Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation mission requirements and priorities, and for other purposes.
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 “NSF and USDA Interagency Research Act”.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION.
(a) In General.—The Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) and the Director of the National Science Foundation (in this section referred to as the “Director”) shall carry out cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities focused on the joint advancement of Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation mission requirements and priorities.
(b) Memoranda of Understanding.—The Secretary and the Director shall coordinate the activities under subsection (a) through the establishment of memoranda of understanding or other appropriate interagency agreements. Such memoranda or agreements, as the case may be, shall require the use of a competitive, merit review process, as appropriate. Such activities may include components proposed by Federal agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate entities, as determined appropriate under the memoranda or agreements.
(c) Coordination.—In carrying out the activities under subsection
(a), the Secretary and the Director may carry out the following:
(1) Conduct collaborative research in a variety of focus areas, such as the following:
(A) Plant, animal, and microbial biology relevant to agricultural challenges.
(B) Food and nutrition security.
(C) Rural economic revitalization.
(D) Cyber-physical systems.
(E) Smart and connected communities.
(F) Advanced sensors and models of soil and plant processes.
(G) Nano-biosensing and analytical technologies to improve food safety, water quality, biosecurity, plant and animal diseases, and soil health.
(H) Monitoring of food- or water-borne pathogens, allergens, and accidental, natural, or intentional bio- or chemical contaminants.
(I) Key emerging technology areas, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, robotics, digital agriculture, distributed ledger technologies (including blockchain), and information and communication technology for agricultural uses.
(J) Development and testing of new precision agriculture tools.
(K) Workforce needs, education, and development.
(2) Promote collaboration, open community-based development, and data and information sharing between Federal agencies, institutions of higher education, community colleges, area career and technical education schools, nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate entities by providing the necessary access and secure data and information transfer capabilities.
(3) Support research infrastructure, including new facilities, equipment, and broadband deployment, as the Secretary and Director determine necessary.
(4) Develop translational technologies for commercial utilization.
(5) Organize education, training, and research initiatives relating to STEM education and workforce development, which may include the following:
(A) Activities supported by the Cooperative Extension System.
(B) Industrial partnership programs.
(C) Workshops for educating preschool through grade 12 teachers on how to increase agricultural literacy.
(D) Development of agricultural-based science curricula for kindergarten through grade 12 students.
(E) Distribution of resources for educators to implement curricula, such as the workshops referred to in subparagraph (C).
(6) Award grants to institutions of higher education, community colleges, area career and technical education schools, or eligible nonprofit institutions (or consortia thereof), to establish a Center for Agricultural Research, Education, and Workforce Development.
(7) Facilitate relationships between public and private sector entities to carry out the activities specified in paragraphs (1) through (6) upon the termination of any memoranda of understanding or other appropriate interagency agreement entered into under subsection (b).
(d) Agreements.—In carrying out the activities under subsection
(a), the Secretary and the Director are authorized to—
(1) carry out reimbursable agreements between the Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, and other entities in order to maximize the effectiveness of research and development; and
(2) collaborate with other Federal agencies, as appropriate.
(e) Report.—Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Director shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing the following:
(1) Interagency coordination between each Federal agency involved in the research and development activities carried out under this section.
(2) Potential opportunities to expand the technical capabilities of the Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation.
(3) Collaborative research achievements.
(4) Areas of future mutually beneficial successes.
(5) Continuation of coordination activities between the Department and the Foundation.
(f) Research Security.—The activities authorized under this section shall be applied in a manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (enacted as division B of Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.; popularly referred to as the “CHIPS and Science Act”).
(g) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.—The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means each of the following committees:
(A) The Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives.
(B) The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.
(C) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(D) The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
(2) Area career and technical education school.—The term “area career and technical education school” has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
(3) Community college.—The term “community college” has the meaning given such term in section 3167B of the Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381c-
3).
(4) Institution of higher education.—The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). <all>
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