<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><BillSummaries>
    <item congress="117" measure-type="hr" measure-number="4456" measure-id="id117hr4456" originChamber="HOUSE" orig-publish-date="2021-07-16" update-date="2022-05-23">
        <title>Helping America’s Farmers Act</title>
        <summary summary-id="id117hr4456v00" currentChamber="HOUSE" update-date="2022-05-23">
            <action-date>2021-07-16</action-date>
            <action-desc>Introduced in House</action-desc>
            <summary-text><![CDATA[ <p><b>Helping America's Farmers Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides financial assistance to certain agricultural entities.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill directs the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to carry out a program to provide economic disaster loans to certain agricultural entities with an adjusted gross income of less than or equal to $500,000. Under the program, such entities are eligible for zero-interest loans of up to $2 million and may seek loan forgiveness based on demonstrated economic hardship.In making loans, priority must be given to (1) entities located in states most impacted by an economic disaster; and (2) minority, veteran, and women farmers and ranchers.</p> <p>The FSA may also guarantee a loan to certain agricultural entities with an adjusted gross income of greater than $500,000 if such loan meets certain requirements.</p> <p>Entities that apply for a loan or loan guarantee may request that the FSA provide an emergency grant of at least $20,000 upon application.</p> <p>The bill also provides funding for USDA to carry out a program to provide FSA staff with appropriate training relating to economic injury loan processing and servicing.</p>]]></summary-text>
        </summary>
    </item>
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        <dc:language>EN</dc:language>
        <dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights>
        <dc:contributor>Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress</dc:contributor>
        <dc:description>This file contains bill summaries for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.</dc:description>
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</BillSummaries>
