Proposed agriculture and rural legislation: July 17, 2025 – August 22, 2025

Rural health is addressed separately.

S.350 - Wildfire Emergency Act of 2025. To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to select and implement landscape-scale forest restoration projects, to assist communities in increasing their resilience to wildfire, and for other purposes.
Introduced by Alex Padilla (D-CA) on January 30, 2025. Cosponsored by Steve Daines (R-MT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV). Initially referred to Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where it was discharged by unanimous consent on July 17. The same day, it was referred to this committee.

S.2324 - Pesticide Injury Accountability Act of 2025. To amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to establish a private right of action for injuries caused by pesticides.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by Cory Booker (D-NJ). No cosponsors. Referred to this committee the same day.

S.2338 – Strengthening Local Food Security Act of 2025. To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish the Strengthening Local Food Security Program.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by Jack Reed (D-RI). Cosponsored by James Justice (R-WV). Referred to this committee the same day.

H.R.4529 – Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act. To increase market access for Black farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, to ensure civil rights accountability.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by David Scott (D-GA). Cosponsored by twenty-two Democratic representatives. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Ways and Means the same day.

July 21, 2025 alert: Business meeting to consider nominations, July 21, 2025. Business meeting to consider the nominations of Dudley Hoskins, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and Scott Hutchins, of Indiana, to be Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, both of the Department of Agriculture.
Both nominees were forwarded to the full Senate for a vote.

July 21, 2025 alert: H. Rept. 119-195. “Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act.” Bill: H.R.1618.

S.2395 - Mid-South Oilseed Double Cropping Study Act of 2025. To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to require the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to conduct research and development on the inclusion of certain oilseed crops in double cropping policies.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2396 - Farm Board Act of 2025. To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to require certain membership on the Board of Directors of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Puzzled comment: The current wording for membership on the Board of Directors of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation states that “there must be at least one specialty crop producer.” Tuberville’s bill amends that to read “at least 1 specialty crop producer, and, beginning with the Board of Directors serving on or after May 1, 2027, 1 producer that actively engages in livestock production and crop production of agricultural commodities.”
So, he changes “one” to “1,” and adds… what? What does the “1 producer that actively engages in livestock production and crop production of agricultural commodities” bring to the table or change in Board composition? I am confused.

S.2399 - Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act. To establish a payment program for unexpected loss of markets and revenues to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses due to major disasters.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Susan Collins (R-ME). Cosponsored by Angus King (I-ME), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and no Republicans. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Snarky comment: You would think with the way tariffs are killing the pulp and construction industries in the USA, that Republicans would be on board with this bill. Maybe they like paying more for toilet paper? And Amazon boxes?

S.2409 - PRIME Act (Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act).To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to exempt from inspection the slaughter of animals and the preparation of carcasses conducted at a custom slaughter facility.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Angus King (I-ME). Cosponsored by six Republicans and two Democrats, Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2423 - Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025. To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into a memorandum of understanding relating to housing projects.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Jerry Moran (R-KS). Cosponsored by four Democrats and two Republicans. Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs the same day.
Comment: This bill is extraordinarily vague. It forces Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Agriculture to work together on rural housing, while the stated goal is terribly unclear.

July 23, 2025 alert. July 29, 2025 meeting. 3:00PM(EDT), 328A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Hearings to examine perspectives on reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Meeting Details include video of the meeting.

H.R.4636 - SOIL Act (Saving Our Interconnected Lives Act). To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to encourage practices that benefit both soil and wildlife habitat by increasing payments to producers for such practices under the environmental quality incentives program and the conservation stewardship program.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Julia Brownley (D-CA). No cosponsors. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.

H.R.4657 - Next Generation Farmer Act. To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify limitations on access to farm ownership loans for beginning farmers and ranchers.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Brad Finstad (R-MN). Cosponsored by Josh Riley (D-NY). Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Comment: This would amend the existing Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act requirement of three years of experience as hired farm labor with substantial management experience, to one year with the stipulation that the grant applicant have a mentor who is an experienced or retired rancher or farmer.

H.R.4665 - Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act. To establish a payment program for unexpected loss of markets and revenues to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses due to major disasters.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Jared Golden (D-ME). Cosponsored by Pete Stauber (R-MN) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME). Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.

H.R.4673 - Save Our Bacon Act. To ensure the free movement of livestock-derived products in interstate commerce.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Ashley Hinson (R-IA). Cosponsored by twenty-one Republicans and NO Democrats.
Comment: Cosponsors include only one Republican from California (Doug LaMalfa) and NO Republicans from Nevada or Utah, which are among the states with tight restrictions on import of agricultural products due to health issues. The cosponsors of the bill seem to hail from beef- and pork-producing states. Interesting that no Republican representative from Texas cosponsored.

H.R.4700 - PRIME Act (Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act). To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to exempt from inspection the slaughter of animals and the preparation of carcasses conducted at a custom slaughter facility.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Thomas Massie (R-KY). Cosponsored by thirty-nine Republicans (including Pennsylvanians Scott Perry and Lloyd Smucker) and five Democrats. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.

H.R.4706 - Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act. To prohibit the acquisition and ownership of agricultural land and residential real property by certain foreign entities.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Mary Miller (R-IA). Cosponsored by seventeen Republicans and no Democrats. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Foreign Affairs the same day.
Comment: Although the “To” part of the bill sounds like it will target China PLUS Iran, Russia, and North Korea, it does not. Targets are only China plus Hong Kong and Macau.

H.R.4708 - Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act. To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to include spotted lanternfly control research and development as high-priority research and extension initiative.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Joseph Morelle (D-NY). Cosponsored by twenty Democrats and twelve Republicans. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Angry comment: Why. The. Hell. Didn’t Smucker and Joyce cosponsor this bill? Do they never step outside when they are in south central Pennsylvania? Do they not get it? What planet do they live on? [Removing soap box and killing another lanternfly.]

H.R.4721 - Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act (Healthy H2O Act). To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish a grant program to assist with the purchase, installation, and maintenance of point-of-entry and point-of-use drinking water quality improvement products.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by David Rouzer (R-NC). Cosponsored by ten Democrats and only two Republicans. No cosponsors from Pennsylvania. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.

EC1509 – July 23, 2025. From the Administrator, Farm Service Agency, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final rule - Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) 2023 and 2024 [Docket ID: FSA-2025-0005].

S.2436 - Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act (Healthy H2O Act). To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish a grant program to assist with the purchase, installation, and maintenance of point-of-entry and point-of-use drinking water quality improvement products.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). Cosponsored by Susan Collins (R-ME). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2442 - O DAIRY Act of 2025 (Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields Act of 2025). To require the Secretary of Agriculture to provide support for organic dairy producers and processors.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Peter Welch (D-VT). Cosponsored by Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Tina Smith (D-MN). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2450 - Biochar Research Network Act of 2025. To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a national biochar research network.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Cosponsored by Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2456 - Promoting Rural Exports Act of 2025. To establish rural export centers.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Cosponsored by John Hoeven (R-ND), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND). Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs the same day.
Comment: Surprised that neither John Fetterman nor Dave McCormick cosponsored. Perhaps they will do so yet.

S.2467 - Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2025. To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to improve biorefinery, renewable chemical, and biobased product manufacturing assistance.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Cosponsored by Jerry Moran (R-KS). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

July 24, 2025 alert: Transcript of February 11, 2025 hearing was made available. “Examining the Economic Crisis in Farm Country.”

July 26, 2025 alert. July 28, 2025 meeting. 5:30PM(EDT), 216 Capitol (Senate side), Washington, D.C. Business meeting to consider the nominations of Michael Boren, of Idaho, to be Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and Richard Fordyce, of Missouri, to be Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, both of the Department of Agriculture. Meeting Details include video (which had been uploaded by August 22, but was not functioning properly).

July 26, 2025 alert. July 30, 2025 meeting. 11:00AM(EDT), 328A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Hearings to examine a review of the USDA reorganization proposal. Meeting Details include video of the hearing.
Comment: A reorganization of the USDA? Why hasn’t this been all over the news? -- This is the memorandum that triggered the announcement. Secretary memorandum SM 1078-015. Disbanding the central office in Washington, DC and establishing five new regional offices. So much for saving money.

S.2500 - Research for Healthy Soils Act. To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to include as a high-priority research and extension area research on microplastics in land-applied biosolids on farmland.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Cosponsored by Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2504 - To require that certain agencies only procure cut flowers and cut greens grown in the United States. The “certain agencies” are the Executive Office of the President, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Cosponsored by Adam Schiff (D-CA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Angus King (I-ME). Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs the same day.

H.R.4782 - Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act. To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which the Secretary will enter into cooperative agreements with State, local, or Tribal governments increase the purchase of local foods.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Robert Bresnahan (R-PA). Cosponsored by seventeen Democrats and only seven Republicans. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) cosponsored, but neither James Joyce nor Lloyd Smucker did so. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Comment: I can see local farms like Hollabaugh’s or Weikert’s greatly benefiting from this legislation. And, I would rather buy farm-raised fish from East Berlin, PA, fifteen miles north of me, than from Chile or Costa Rica.

H.R.4797 - EATS Act of 2025 (Enhance Access To SNAP Act of 2025). To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to remove certain eligibility disqualifications that restrict otherwise eligible students enrolled in institutions of higher education from participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Jimmy Gomez (D-CA). Cosponsored by ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX DEMOCRATS AND ZERO REPUBLICANS. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day. Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2), Christopher Deluzio (D-PA-17), Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-5) were among the 133 cosponsors. Madelein Dean has not cosponsored yet.
Please remember that killing SNAP also damages American farmers!

H.Res.616 - Expressing support for the designation of July 2025 as “American Grown Flower and Foliage Month.”
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Salud Carbajal (D-CA). Cosponsored by three Republicans and two Democrats. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Snarky comment: Such a controversial resolution… How dare they!

S.2543 - Stop the SWARM Act of 2025 (Stop the Screwworms With Active Readiness and Mitigation Act of 2025). To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report on New World screwworm readiness and response.
Introduced July 30, 2025 by John Cornyn (R-TX). Cosponsored by Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.
Comment: Despite the punny name of the bill, the New World Screwworm infestation isn’t going away on its own. The CDC is reporting on this as well. It is not prevalent in the USA yet, but Texans remember the fire ant.

POM9 – July 30, 2025. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress to modify the H-2A nonimmigrant visa program to address the untenable increases in wage rates resulting from the United States Department of Labor’s policies that create an undue and unsustainable financial burden on Louisiana farmers, who rely on an affordable, readily available H-2A workforce.

S.2574 - Prohibition of Agricultural Land for Foreign Adversaries Act. To prohibit certain persons from purchasing agricultural land in the United States.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.
Comment: The “certain persons” who would be prohibited by this bill from buying agricultural land in the USA include any individual or entity associated with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the People’s Republic of China, and the Russian Federation.

S.2580 - Promoting American Competition in Aquaculture Research Act. To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to eliminate the prohibition on indirect costs with respect to aquaculture assistance.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Roger Wicker (R-MS). Cosponsored by Mazie Hirono (D-HI). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2582 - Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025. To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct research relating to measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification of soil carbon sequestration.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Tina Smith (D-MN). Cosponsored by Todd Young (R-IN). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2608 - CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025. To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to improve the conservation reserve program.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by John Thune (R-SD). Cosponsored by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Tina Smith (D-MN). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2610 - Streamlining Rural Broadband Act of 2025. To terminate the Community Connect Grant program of the Department of Agriculture.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Joni Ernst (R-IA). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.
Puzzled comment: Why does Joni Ernst want to terminate the Community Connect Grant Program of the Department of Agriculture? Passed in 1936 (yes, 1936), last amended apparently in 2018. So not a Biden-era bill. She did not explain in the text of S.2610.

S.2619 - MORE DOT Grants Act (More Opportunities for Rural Economies from Department of Transportation Grants Act). To improve the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the Department of Transportation to certain counties in which the majority of land is owned or managed by the Federal Government and to other units of local government and Tribal governments in those counties.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). Cosponsored by Steve Daines (R-MT) and Adam Schiff (D-CA). Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation the same day.

S.2618 - MORE USDA Grants Act (More Opportunities for Rural Economies from USDA Grants Act). To improve the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the Department of Agriculture to certain counties in which the majority of land is owned or managed by the Federal Government and to other units of local government and Tribal governments in those counties.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). Cosponsored by Steve Daines (R-MT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and James Risch (R-ID). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2643 - Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025. To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to enter into contracts, grants, and agreements to carry out certain ecosystem restoration activities.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). Cosponsored by John Cornyn (R-TX) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.
Comment: I am following this bill! I want to plant trees on my “back 40!”

S.2654 - Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act of 2025. To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to improve the biobased markets program.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). Cosponsored by Joni Ernst (R-IA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

H.R.4832 - Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act of 2025. To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to improve the biobased markets program.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Mark Alford (R-MO). Cosponsored by Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI), Mark Messmer (R-IN), and Angie Craig (D-MN). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform the same day.

H.R.4852 - Wildfire Emergency Preparedness Act of 2025. To increase the preparation of structural firefighters to assist in wildfire and wildland-urban interface fire response efforts and the coordination of firefighting teams across all levels of government.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Josh Harder (D-CA). Cosponsored by David Valadao (R-CA). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure and Armed Services and Education and Workforce the same day.
Comment: Where is the bipartisan support from Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona?

H.R.4864 - Ethanol for America Act of 2025. To require the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize a proposed rule with respect to E15 fuel dispenser labeling and compatibility with underground storage tanks with modifications.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Adrian Smith (R-NE). Cosponsored by six Republicans and one Democrat. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce the same day.
Comment: All cosponsors, including Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), are from corn country. That said, neither Lloyd Smucker nor John Joyce cosponsored, although Pennsylvania is corn country as well.

H.R.4865 - Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025. To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct research relating to measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification of soil carbon sequestration.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Eric Sorensen (D-IL). Cosponsored by Michael Lawler (R-NY). Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.

H.Res.628 - Recognizing the 20th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard and its foundational role in strengthening United States energy security, supporting rural communities, growing the United States economy, and improving environmental performance.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Max Miller (R-OH). Cosponsored by seven Republicans and two Democrats [Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) and Angie Craig (D-MN)]. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce the same day.

EC1546 – August 2, 2025. From the Assistant General Counsel, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, four (4) reports relative to nominations, vacancies, designation of service in acting roles, discontinuation of service in an acting role and an action on nomination for positions covered by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998.

EC1547 – August 2, 2025. From the Regulatory Specialist, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled “Grazing Advisory Boards.”

H.R.4879 - Emergency Rural Water Response Act of 2025. To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand eligibility for grants related to emergency water assistance.
Introduced August 5, 2025 by Jim Costa (D-CA). Cosponsored by Chuck Edwards (R-NC). Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Comment: Although this bill may go nowhere, I am following it. I am rural. I have well water. My property backs onto a cornfield.

H.R.4892 - Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025. To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to enter into contracts, grants, and agreements to carry out certain ecosystem restoration activities.
Introduced August 5, 2025 by Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Natural Resources the same day.
Comment: In the Senate, S.2643 (Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025) was a bipartisan bill. Introduced by Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and cosponsored by John Cornyn (R-TX) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).
This single bill demonstrates clearly the difference between the collegiality and oft-bipartisanship in the Senate, versus the toxicity of the House. It’s a no-brainer. But in the House, could not get a Republican cosponsor.

H.R.4898 - Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood Act. To support equity for aquaculture and seafood at the Department of Agriculture.
Introduced August 5, 2025 by Frank Pallone (D-NJ). Cosponsored by Kat Cammack (R-FL). Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Comment: This is a very long bill. I could not read all of it. It is NOT a DEI bill.

H.Res.638 - Designating the week of August 3 through August 9, 2025, as “National Farmers Market Week.”
Introduced August 5, 2025 by David Valadao (R-CA). Cosponsored by ten Democrats and NO Republicans. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Another snarky comment: How dare Democrats keep sponsoring such controversial resolutions! I have the utmost sympathy for Reps. John Joyce and Lloyd Smucker, who surely cannot think of a single farmers market they could support in south central Pennsylvania!

H.R.4935 - Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program Act of 2025. To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to extend and enhance the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program.
Introduced August 8, 2025 by Zachary Nunn (R-IA). Cosponsored by John Mannion (D-NY). Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Comments: This bill would accomplish three things. It would extend the extant legislation (Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act) from 2023 when it expired, to 2030. It would increase the amount of “microloans” provided to rural microenterprises from $50,000 to $75,000. It would change federal portion of funded projects from 75% to 100%. And, it would add a stipulation that “a loan under this section for a project may be used to cover not more than 50 percent of any demolition, construction, or related costs of real estate improvements under the project.”

H.R.4939 - SNAP Study Act of 2025. To require the Secretary of Agriculture to submit an annual report to Congress on the state of food security and diet quality in the United States, including the impact of changes to the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), and to provide policy recommendations for improving nutrition outcomes for both participants and nonparticipants.
Introduced August 8, 2025 by Keith Self (R-TX). No cosponsors. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Comment: If this had not been introduced by a Republican, I would think it was all right. But I suspect there’s an agenda behind this bit of proposed legislation.

H.R.4947 - No Discrimination in Farm Programs Act. To prohibit the use of race-based or sex-based criteria in the administration of certain Department of Agriculture programs.
Introduced August 12, 2025 by Jodey Arrington (R-TX). Cosponsored by five Republicans, including Scott Perry (R-PA-10).
Comment: George Orwell would be proud. This is NOT a “no discrimination” bill. It’s an anti-DEI bill.

H.R.4950 - Data BRIDGE Act (Data Broadband Reporting and Integration for Deployment in Geographically Essential Areas Act). To direct the Federal Communications Commission to incorporate into the National Broadband Map of the Commission a layer that presents data on the location of agricultural areas.
Introduced August 12, 2025 by Erin Houchin (R-IN). Cosponsored by four Democrats and three Republicans. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce the same day.

H.R.4957 - Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025. To reform rural housing programs.
Introduced August 12, 2025 by Zachary Nunn (R-IA). Cosponsored by Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO). Referred to the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Comment: This is a very long bill. If you read or write about rural issues, you may want to delve into the details of this proposed legislation.

H.R.4967 - Keep Seniors Fed Act. To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to exclude from income certain funds received under the Social Security Act.
Introduced August 12, 2025 by Jill Tokuda (D-HI). Cosponsored by thirty-five Democratic representatives, NO Republicans. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.
Comment: This does not appear to revise extant legislation by large amounts. It merely edits “and” clauses, thus slightly expanding the pool of senior citizens who may receive SNAP benefits. This is NOT a huge expansion, so no reason for Republicans to hate it.

H.R.4987 - Food Date Labeling Act of 2025. To establish requirements for quality and discard date phrases that are voluntarily declared on the food label to display calendar dates.
Introduced August 15, 2025 by Chellie Pingree (D-ME). Cosponsored by Dan Newhouse (R-WA). Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Agriculture the same day.

H.R.5004 - Next Generation of Farmers Act of 2025. To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to reduce the eligibility requirement for direct farm real estate loans.
Introduced August 19, 2025 by Zachary Nunn (R-IA). Cosponsored by Jasmine Crockett (D-TX). Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.

H.R.5010 - Farm Credit Adjustment Act. To allow the Farm Credit Administration the option to examine low-risk Farm Credit System institutions under a 24-month cycle.
Introduced August 19, 2025 by Eugene Vindman (D-VA). Cosponsored by Pat Fallon (R-TX). Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture the same day.

If this post helped you in your research, please consider leaving a tip here: TIP JAR.