7 U.S.C. § 6934 — Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement

(a) Definitions. (1) “Beginning farmer or rancher” has the meaning in section 1991(a). (2) “Office” means the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement established here. (3) “Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” has the meaning in section 2279(e). This section does not otherwise define those quoted terms.
(b) Establishment and purpose. (1) The Secretary^* must establish, within the Department’s executive operations, an Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement to (A) improve access to Department^* programs; (B) improve the viability and profitability of (i) small farms and ranches, (ii) beginning farmers or ranchers, (iii) socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, (iv) limited-resource producers, and (v) veteran farmers and ranchers; and (C) promote youth outreach. (2) A Director appointed by the Secretary from the competitive service heads the Office.
(c) Duties. The Office must ensure access to and fair participation in Department programs and services for small farms and ranches, beginning farmers or ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers, and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers by: (1) setting and monitoring Department goals to increase their participation; (2) assessing outreach effectiveness; (3) creating and carrying out a plan coordinating outreach activities and services; (4) giving agencies and offices input on program and policy decisions; (5) measuring program and activity outcomes for these groups; (6) recommending new initiatives and programs to the Secretary; and (7) performing other related duties the Secretary considers appropriate.
(d) Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Group. (1) The Secretary must establish it within the Office. (2) It (A) must carry out section 2279 and (B) may carry out activities under section 2279(a) through other Department agencies and offices. (3) It must oversee (A) the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers established under section 14009 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and (B) the Farmworker Coordinator position under subsection (f). (4)(A) It may perform other duties the Secretary identifies to improve socially disadvantaged farmers’ and ranchers’ access to and participation in Department programs. (B) The Office must perform the functions and duties of the Office of Outreach and Diversity that the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights performed immediately before this section was enacted.
(e) Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Group. (1) The Secretary must establish it within the Office. (2) It must (A) oversee the Office of Small Farms Coordination established by Departmental Regulation 9700–1 (Aug. 3, 2006); (B) consult with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture about administering the beginning farmer and rancher development grant program under section 2279(d); (C) coordinate with the Advisory Committee for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers under section 5(b) of the Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Pub. L. 102–554); and (D) perform other duties the Secretary identifies to improve small farms’ and beginning farmers’ and ranchers’ access to and participation in Department programs.
(f) Farmworker Coordinator. (1) The Secretary must establish the position within the Office and this subsection calls the holder the “Coordinator.” (2) The Secretary must delegate responsibility to the Coordinator for (A) helping administer section 5177a of title 42; (B) serving as liaison to community nonprofit organizations representing and experienced in serving low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers; (C) coordinating with the Department, other Federal agencies, and State and local governments so farmworker needs are assessed and met during declared disasters and emergencies; (D) consulting inside the Office and with others to include farmworker views and concerns in Department programs; (E) consulting appropriate institutions about research, program improvements, or agricultural education assisting low-income and migrant seasonal farmworkers; and (F) helping farmworkers become agricultural producers or landowners. (3) Appropriations are authorized for (A) amounts necessary in fiscal years 2009–2013 and (B) $2,000,000 for each fiscal year 2014–2023.