[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4435-S4436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3153. Mr. UDALL (for himself, Mr. Inhofe, and Mr. Murphy) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 
2, to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other 
programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2023, and 
for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 12519. REPORT ON STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

       Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of 
     Education, shall submit to Congress and make publicly 
     available a report describing the impact of student loan debt 
     on farmers, ranchers, and the agricultural sector in the 
     United States. The report shall include the following:
       (1) An assessment and description of the extent to which 
     debt from student loans is--
       (A) impacting the ability of farmers and ranchers to 
     acquire or access credit, acquire or inherit farmland, start 
     new businesses, or expand existing farm operations;

[[Page S4436]]

       (B) creating barriers to entry or preventing aspiring 
     farmers and ranchers from beginning careers in agriculture-
     related occupations; and
       (C) threatening the long-term economic viability of 
     agriculture in the United States.
       (2) How debt from student loans affects, as described in 
     paragraph (1), beginning farmers and historically underserved 
     producers, in particular.
       (3) The regulatory, operational, or statutory changes that 
     are necessary to address student loan debt as an impediment 
     for current and aspiring farmers and ranchers.
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