[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8374 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8374
To strike references to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in
Federal law, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 20, 2026
Mr. Harris of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Harris of Maryland, Ms.
Boebert, Mr. Wied, Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Fine, Mr. Brecheen, Mr. Clyde,
Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Perry, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Steube, Mr. Collins,
Mr. Nehls, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Ms. Letlow, Mr. Burchett, Mr. Self,
Mr. Roy, Mr. Norman, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. Van Orden, Mr. Cline,
and Mr. Smith of Nebraska) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To strike references to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in
Federal law, 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 ``Equal Treatment for Farmers Act''.
SEC. 2. STRIKING REFERENCES TO SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND
RANCHERS IN FEDERAL LAW.
(a) Section 524(a)(3) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1524(a)(3)) is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraph (C); and
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (F) as
subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively.
(b) Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7
U.S.C. 1627c) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking paragraph (11); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as
paragraphs (11) and (12), respectively;
(2) in subsection (d)(5)(C)(i)--
(A) by striking subclause (II); and
(B) by redesignating subclauses (III) and (IV) as
subclauses (II) and (III), respectively; and
(3) in subsection (i)(3)(A)(ii)(II)--
(A) in the subclause heading, by striking
``Beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged'' and
inserting ``Beginning and veteran''; and
(B) by striking ``beginning, veteran, and socially
disadvantaged'' and inserting ``beginning and
veteran''.
(c) The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921
et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 304 (7 U.S.C. 1924)--
(A) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``and
socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers''; and
(B) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ``socially
disadvantaged farmer or rancher or a'';
(2) in section 310B(e) (7 U.S.C. 1932(e))--
(A) by striking paragraph (11); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as
paragraphs (11) and (12), respectively;
(3) in section 310E (7 U.S.C. 1935)--
(A) in subsection (d)(4)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by adding ``or''
at the end;
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B);
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (B); and
(iv) in subparagraph (B), as so
redesignated, by striking ``; and'' at the end;
and
(B) in subsection (e)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by adding ``and'' at
the end;
(ii) by striking paragraph (2); and
(iii) by redesignating paragraph (3) as
paragraph (2);
(4) in section 310F (7 U.S.C. 1936)--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``and
socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher'';
(B) in subsection (a), by striking ``or socially
disadvantaged farmer or rancher (as defined in section
355(e)(2))'';
(C) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``or socially
disadvantaged farmer or rancher'';
(D) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``or socially
disadvantaged farmer or rancher''; and
(E) in subsection (f), by striking ``and Socially
Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher'' each place it
appears;
(5) in section 310I (7 U.S.C. 1936c)--
(A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``socially
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (as defined in
subsection (a) of section 2501 of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 2279)) or''; and
(B) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
``(d) Preference.--In making loans under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities in States that
have adopted a statute consisting of an enactment or adoption of the
Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, as approved and recommended
for enactment in all States by the National Conference of Commissioners
on Uniform State Laws in 2010, that relend to owners of heirs property
(as defined in that Act).'';
(6) in section 333B(c)(3)(A) (7 U.S.C. 1983b(c)(3)(A)), by
striking ``, including, as appropriate, socially disadvantaged
farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 355(e)(2))'';
(7) in section 352(c) (7 U.S.C. 2000(c)), by amending
paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) The period of occupancy allowed the prior owner of homestead
property under this section shall be the period requested in writing by
the prior owner, except that such period shall not exceed 5 years.'';
and
(8) by striking section 355 (7 U.S.C. 2003).
(d) Section 5413 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7
U.S.C. 2008x) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(C), by striking ``and socially
disadvantaged''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ``and socially
disadvantaged''.
(e) Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking paragraphs (5) and (6); and
(B) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph
(5);
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``socially disadvantaged
farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers,'' and
inserting ``veteran farmers and ranchers'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Socially Disadvantaged and'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in clause (i), by striking
``socially disadvantaged farmers and
ranchers and''; and
(II) in clause (ii), by striking
``socially disadvantaged farmers or
ranchers and'';
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (E) and (F);
and
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as
subparagraph (E);
(C) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by striking ``socially
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and'';
(D) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
and'';
(ii) in subparagraph (D)--
(I) by striking clauses (iii) and
(iv);
(II) by redesignating clauses (v)
through (vii) as clauses (iii) through
(v), respectively;
(III) in clause (iv), as so
redesignated, by striking ``and
socially disadvantaged farmers or
ranchers''; and
(IV) in clause (v), as so
redesignated, by striking ``clause
(vi)'' and inserting ``clause (iv)'';
and
(iii) in subparagraph (F), by striking
``socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
or''; and
(E) by striking paragraph (5);
(4) in subsection (f)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2);
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as
paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively; and
(C) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by adding ``or''
at the end;
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (B);
(5) in subsection (g)(2), by striking ``socially
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers or'';
(6) by striking subsections (h) and (j);
(7) by redesignating subsections (i), (k), and (l) as
subsections (h), (i), and (j), respectively;
(8) in subsection (i), as so redesignated--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``and members
of socially disadvantaged groups''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and
members of socially disadvantaged groups'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by adding ``and''
at the end;
(iii) by striking subparagraphs (C) and
(E);
(iv) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (C); and
(v) in subparagraph (C), as so
redesignated, by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a period; and
(9) in subsection (j)(4)(A), as redesignated by paragraph
(7)--
(A) in clause (i), by adding ``and'' at the end;
(B) by striking clause (ii); and
(C) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii).
(f) The Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 226B (7 U.S.C. 6934)--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (3);
(B) in subsection (b)(1)(B)--
(i) by striking clause (iii); and
(ii) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v)
as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively;
(C) in subsection (c)--
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
by striking ``veteran farmers and ranchers, and
socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers''
and inserting ``and veteran farmers and
ranchers'';
(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking
``socially disadvantaged,''; and
(iii) in paragraph (5), by striking
``veteran farmers or ranchers, and socially
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers'' and
inserting ``and veteran farmers or ranchers'';
(D) by striking subsection (d); and
(E) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as
subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and
(2) by striking section 305 (7 U.S.C. 2279a).
(g) Section 201 of division HH of the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328; 136 Stat. 5971) is repealed.
(h) Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform
Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) is amended--
(1) in subsection (k)(2), by striking ``, beginning, or
socially disadvantaged'' and inserting ``or beginning''; and
(2) in subsection (l)(3)--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking
``veteran, and socially disadvantaged'' and inserting
``and veteran''; and
(B) by striking ``, beginning, and socially
disadvantaged'' and inserting ``and beginning''.
(i) Section 405(c) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7625(c)) is amended by striking
``socially disadvantaged farmers,''.
(j) Section 9011 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8111) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (9); and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(B), by amending clause (v) to
read as follows:
``(v) the participation rate by beginning
farmers or ranchers (as defined in accordance
with section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1991(a)));''; and
(B) in paragraph (5), by amending subparagraph (B)
to read as follows:
``(B) Amount of establishment payments.--The amount
of an establishment payment under this subsection shall
be not more than 50 percent of the costs of
establishing an eligible perennial crop covered by the
contract but not to exceed $500 per acre, including--
``(i) the cost of seeds and stock for
perennials;
``(ii) the cost of planting the perennial
crop, as determined by the Secretary; and
``(iii) in the case of nonindustrial
private forestland, the costs of site
preparation and tree planting.''.
(k) The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8701
et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 1101(d) (7 U.S.C. 8711(d)), by amending
paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a farm
owned by a limited resource farmer or rancher, as defined by
the Secretary.''; and
(2) in section 1302(d) (7 U.S.C. 8752(d)), by amending
paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a farm
owned by a limited resource farmer or rancher, as defined by
the Secretary.''.
(l) The Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9001 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) in section 1114(d)(2) (7 U.S.C. 9014(d)(2))--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D)
as subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively;
(2) in section 1404(c)(4) (7 U.S.C. 9054(c)(4)), by
striking ``veteran, or socially disadvantaged'' and inserting
``or veteran''; and
(3) in section 1501(a)(1)(A) (7 U.S.C. 9081(a)(1)(A))--
(A) in clause (i), by adding ``or'' at the end;
(B) by striking clause (ii); and
(C) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii).
(m) Subclause (III) of section 8(b)(5)(B)(iii) of the Soil
Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(b)(5)(B)(iii))
is amended to read as follows:
``(III) Nominations.--To be
eligible for nomination and election to
the applicable county, area, or local
committee, as determined by the
Secretary, an agricultural producer
shall be located within the area under
the jurisdiction of a county, area, or
local committee, and participate or
cooperate in programs administered
within that area.''.
(n) Section 402A(b) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 2202a(b)) is amended by striking ``, a socially disadvantaged
farmer or rancher (as defined in subsection (a) of section 2501 of the
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
2279),''.
(o) Section 623 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C.
1985 note) is repealed.
(p) The Food Security Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-198; 99 Stat.
1504) is amended--
(1) in section 1201(a) (16 U.S.C. 3801(a))--
(A) by striking paragraph (23); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (24) through (27)
as paragraphs (23) through (26), respectively;
(2) in section 1231C(b)(3)(E) (16 U.S.C. 3831c(b)(3)(E))--
(A) in the subparagraph heading, by striking
``socially disadvantaged,'';
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking
``socially disadvantaged,''; and
(C) in clause (i)(II), by striking ``socially
disadvantaged,'';
(3) in section 1240B(d)(4)(A) (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-
2(d)(4)(A)), by striking ``socially disadvantaged farmer or
rancher,'';
(4) in section 1241(h) (16 U.S.C. 3841(h)), by amending
paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) Assistance.--
``(A) Fiscal years 2009 through 2018.--Of the funds
made available for each of fiscal years 2009 through
2018 to carry out the environmental quality incentives
program and the acres made available for each of such
fiscal years to carry out the conservation stewardship
program, the Secretary shall use, to the maximum extent
practicable, 5 percent to assist beginning farmers or
ranchers.
``(B) Fiscal years 2019 through 2031.--Of the funds
made available for each of fiscal years 2019 through
2031 to carry out the environmental quality incentives
program under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D
and the conservation stewardship program under
subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D, the Secretary
shall use, to the maximum extent practicable, 5 percent
to assist beginning farmers or ranchers.''; and
(5) in section 1271E(d) (16 U.S.C. 3871e(d)), by striking
``socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers,''.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON RACIAL AND GENDER PREFERENCES IN USDA PROGRAMS.
Notwithstanding any other law, no program of the Department of
Agriculture may provide any preference, priority consideration, or
enhanced benefits to any individual or entity on the basis of race or
gender.
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