; and (B) by inserting before subsection (b), as so redesignated, the following: (a) independent animal welfare certification program has the meaning given that term in section 801(1) of the Food and Farm Act. . IX Regional Food Systems A Expanding Support for Local and Regional Food Systems 901. Sense of the Congress It is the sense of the Congress that: (1) Local and regional food systems provide jobs and economic opportunity for farmers and ranchers, businesses, entrepreneurs, and employees across the United States who cultivate, harvest, store, process, market, and distribute food, particularly in rural areas. (2) Local and regional food systems provide meaningful access to healthy, fresh, and affordable foods that are grown and processed closer to markets, especially in food deserts and other underserved areas. (3) Local and regional food systems lower the carbon footprint of America’s food system by growing, processing, distributing, and consuming products locally and reducing the use of fossil fuels. (4) Local and regional food systems foster American resiliency and independence by helping communities become less dependent on external food sources. (5) Local and regional food systems increase accountability for farmers, ranchers, and others employed in the field to engage in sustainable and ethical practices. (6) By supporting the growth and advancement of local and regional food systems, the people of the United States are investing in an environmentally and economically resilient food and agriculture system that provides opportunity and livelihoods for farmers, ranchers, businesses, and employees throughout the economy. 902. Expanding the food leveraging investment for network coordination (LINC) program (a) Increase in number of value chain coordinators The Secretary of Agriculture shall expand Rural Development Agency participation in the Food Leveraging Investment for Network Coordination (LINC) program, a public-private partnership to enhance regional food-value chains, to deploy during each of