[House Report 118-976]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 823
118th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Report 118-976
REPORT ON ACTIVITIES
DURING THE 118TH CONGRESS
__________
R E P O R T
of the
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
January 2, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
57-870 WASHINGTON : 2025
LETTER OF SUBMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Agriculture,
Washington, DC, January 2, 2025.
Hon. Kevin F. McCumber,
Acting Clerk of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. McCumber: Pursuant to rule XI, clause 1(d) of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, I herewith submit to the
House a report of the activities of the Committee on
Agriculture during the 118th Congress.
With best wishes, I am,
Sincerely,
Hon. Glenn ``GT'' Thompson,
Chairman.
C O N T E N T S
----------
I. Summary of Organization, Jurisdiction and Oversight Plan of
the Committee on Agriculture................................... 1
A. Organization.............................................. 1
B. Committee Jurisdiction.................................... 4
C. Oversight Plan............................................ 8
II. Committee Activities During the 118th Congress............... 17
A. Main Legislative Activities............................... 17
B. Statistical Summary of Activities......................... 19
C. Digest of Bills Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee
on Which Action has been taken............................. 20
1. Bills Enacted into Law................................ 20
2. Bills Acted on by the House but not the Senate........ 23
3. House Resolutions Considered in the House............. 34
4. Bills Reported by the Committee on Agriculture but not
Considered............................................. 34
5. Bills Reported by Other Committees Within the
Committee on Agriculture's Jurisdiction But Not
Considered............................................. 39
6. Bills Ordered Reported by the Committee on Agriculture 41
7. Bills Ordered Reported but not Reported by Other
Committees Within the Committee on Agriculture's
Jurisdiction........................................... 41
8. Bills Defeated........................................ 41
9. Bills Acted on by the Committee Included in the Other
Laws Enacted........................................... 41
10. Bills Vetoed......................................... 41
11. Bills Acted on by Both Houses but Not Enacted........ 41
12. Concurrent Resolutions Approved...................... 42
D. Oversight................................................. 43
1. Oversight Hearings.................................... 44
2. Listening Sessions.................................... 50
E. Published Hearings........................................ 52
F. Meetings Not Published.................................... 53
G. Committee Prints.......................................... 53
H. Watersheds................................................ 53
III. Appendix.................................................... 54
A. Executive Communications.................................. 54
B. Statutory and Special Reports............................. 75
C. Memorials................................................. 92
D. Petition.................................................. 93
Union Calendar No. 823
118th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 118-976
======================================================================
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE ON ACTIVITIES DURING THE 118TH
CONGRESS
_______
January 2, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on Agriculture,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
In accordance with rule XI, clause 1(d), of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture
reports herewith on its activities during the 118th Congress.
I. Summary of Organization, Jurisdiction, and Oversight Plan of the
Committee on Agriculture
A. ORGANIZATION
The House of Representatives established the total
authorized membership of the Committee on Agriculture for the
118th Congress at 52, with a party division of 28 Republicans
and 24 Democrats. The membership increased to 54 by the end of
the 118th Congress, with 29 Republicans and 25 Democrats. Among
the Committee Members were 20 Representatives who were serving
their first terms.
The Committee organized on February 8, 2023, into six
subcommittees. The six subcommittees were constituted as
follows:
SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
(Ratio includes ex officio Members.)
(Glenn Thompson, Chairman, and David Scott, Ranking
Minority Member, are ex officio members of all Subcommittees.)
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit
(Ratio 15-12)
AUSTIN SCOTT, Georgia, Chairman
SHONTEL M. BROWN, Ohio, Ranking Minority MemberRICK'' CRAWFORD,
SHARICE DAVIDS, Kansas Arkansas
DONALD G. DAVIS, North Carolina DOUG LaMALFA, California
ERIC SORENSEN, Illinois DAVID ROUZER, North Carolina
JASMINE CROCKETT, Texas DUSTY JOHNSON, South Dakota
NIKKI BUDZINSKI, Illinois MARY E. MILLER, Illinois
SALUD O. CARBAJAL, California BARRY MOORE, Alabama
ANGIE CRAIG, Minnesota BRAD FINSTAD, Minnesota
ALMA S. ADAMS, North Carolina JOHN W. ROSE, Tennessee
SANFORD D. BISHOP, Jr., Georgia RONNY JACKSON, Texas
MONICA De La CRUZ, Texas
JOHN S. DUARTE, California
ZACHARY NUNN, Iowa
MARK ALFORD, Missouri
Jurisdiction: Policies, statutes, and markets relating to
commodities including barley, cotton, cottonseed, corn, grain
sorghum, honey, mohair, oats, other oilseeds, peanuts, pulse
crops, rice, soybeans, sugar, wheat, and wool; the Commodity
Credit Corporation; risk management policies and statutes,
including federal crop insurance; producer data and privacy
issues; agricultural credit; and related oversight of such
issues.
------
Subcommittee on Forestry
(Ratio 6-5)
DOUG LaMALFA, California, Chairman
ANDREA SALINAS, Oregon, Ranking Minority MemberY, Mississippi
MARIE GLUESENKAMP PEREZ, Washington BARRY MOORE, Alabama
GABE VASQUEZ, New Mexico JOHN S. DUARTE, California
CHELLIE PINGREE, Maine LORI CHAVEZ-DeREMER, Oregon
Jurisdiction: Policies and statutes relating to forestry
and all forests under the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Agriculture; regulatory issues impacting national forests; and
related oversight of such issues.
------
Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology
(Ratio 9-8)
JAMES R. BAIRD, Indiana, Chairman
ABIGAIL DAVIS SPANBERGER, Virginia, Ranking Minority Memberma
SHARICE DAVIDS, Kansas MIKE BOST, Illinois
ELISSA SLOTKIN, Mississippi MARY E. MILLER, Illinois
NIKKI BUDZINSKI, Illinois KAT CAMMACK, Florida
ERIC SORENSEN, Illinois BRAD FINSTAD, Minnesota
JILL N. TOKUDA, Hawaii JOHN S. DUARTE, California
GABE VASQUEZ, New Mexico MARK ALFORD, Missouri
Jurisdiction: Policies and statutes related to resource
conservation; pest and disease management, including
pesticides; bioterrorism; adulteration and quarantine matters;
research, education, and extension; biotechnology; and related
oversight of such issues.
------
Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture
(Ratio 12-11)
BRAD FINSTAD, Minnesota, Chairman
JAHANA HAYES, Connecticut, Ranking Minority Member Georgia
JAMES P. McGOVERN, Massachusetts SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee
ALMA S. ADAMS, North Carolina JAMES R. BAIRD, Indiana
JILL N. TOKUDA, Hawaii TRACEY MANN, Kansas
JASMINE CROCKETT, Texas JOHN W. ROSE, Tennessee
JONATHAN L. JACKSON, Illinois MARCUS J. MOLINARO, New York
GREG CASAR, Texas MONICA De La CRUZ, Texas
SHONTEL M. BROWN, Ohio NICHOLAS A. LANGWORTHY, New York
ANDREA SALINAS, Oregon DERRICK VAN ORDEN, Wisconsin
YADIRA CARAVEO, Colorado MAX L. MILLER, Ohio
Jurisdiction: Policies, statutes, and markets relating to
horticulture, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and
ornamentals; bees; and organic agriculture; policies and
statutes relating to marketing and promotion orders; policies
and statutes relating to nutrition, including the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program and domestic commodity
distribution and consumer initiative; policies and statutes
related to foreign agricultural assistance and trade promotion;
and related oversight of such issues.
------
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
(Ratio 12-11)
TRACEY MANN, Kansas, Chairman
JIM COSTA, California, Ranking Minority MemberJARLAIS, Tennessee
ABIGAIL DAVIS SPANBERGER, Virginia TRENT KELLY, Mississippi
JAHANA HAYES, Connecticut DON BACON, Nebraska
YADIRA CARAVEO, Colorado JAMES R. BAIRD, Indiana
JILL N. TOKUDA, Hawaii RANDY FEENSTRA, Iowa
CHELLIE PINGREE, Maine BARRY MOORE, Alabama
DARREN SOTO, Florida RONNY JACKSON, Texas
DONALD G. DAVIS, North Carolina MARCUS J. MOLINARO, New York
____ MARK ALFORD, Missouri
____ DERRICK VAN ORDEN, Wisconsin
Jurisdiction: Policies, statutes, and markets relating to
all livestock, poultry, dairy, and seafood, including all
products thereof; the inspection, marketing, and promotion of
such commodities and products; aquaculture; animal welfare;
grazing; and related oversight of such issues.
------
Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural
Development
(Ratio 13-12)
DUSTY JOHNSON, South Dakota,
Chairman
YADIRA CARAVEO, Colorado, Ranking Minority MemberAS, Oklahoma
DONALD G. DAVIS, North Carolina AUSTIN SCOTT, Georgia
JIM COSTA, California DAVID ROUZER, North Carolina
ANDREA SALINAS, Oregon DON BACON, Nebraska
MARIE GLUESENKAMP PEREZ, Washington TRACEY MANN, Kansas
NIKKI BUDZINSKI, Illinois JOHN W. ROSE, Tennessee
JONATHAN L. JACKSON, Illinois MARCUS J. MOLINARO, New York
GREG CASAR, Texas NICHOLAS A. LANGWORTHY, New York
ANGIE CRAIG, Minnesota ZACHARY NUNN, Iowa
JASMINE CROCKETT, Texas LORI CHAVEZ-DeREMER, Oregon
____ MAX L. MILLER, Ohio
Jurisdiction: Policies, statutes, and markets relating to
commodity exchanges; rural development; energy; rural
electrification; and related oversight of such issues.
B. COMMITTEE JURISDICTION
Under Rules adopted by the House of Representatives for the
118th Congress, the Committee on Agriculture's (hereinafter
also referred to as Committee) jurisdiction (See Rule X, clause
1 of the Rules of the House of Representatives) extended to--
(1) Adulteration of seeds, insect pests, and protection of
birds and animals in forest reserves.
(2) Agriculture generally.
(3) Agricultural and industrial chemistry.
(4) Agricultural colleges and experiment stations.
(5) Agricultural economics and research.
(6) Agricultural education extension services.
(7) Agricultural production and marketing and stabilization of
prices of agricultural products, and commodities
(not including distribution outside of the United
States).
(8) Animal industry and diseases of animals.
(9) Commodity exchanges.
(10) Crop insurance and soil conservation.
(11) Dairy industry.
(12) Entomology and plant quarantine.
(13) Extension of farm credit and farm security.
(14) Inspection of livestock, poultry, meat products, and
seafood and seafood products.
(15) Forestry in general, and forest reserves other than those
created from the public domain.
(16) Human nutrition and home economics.
(17) Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering.
(18) Rural electrification.
(19) Rural development.
(20) Water conservation related to activities of the Department
of Agriculture.
The revised edition of the Rules and Manual of the House of
Representatives for the 118th Congress (House Document No. 117-
161) provides the following concerning the Committee on
Agriculture:\1\
\1\References are to the volume and section of Hinds' (volumes I-V,
e.g., IV, 500) and Cannon's (volumes VI-VIII, e.g., VI, 400) Precedents
of the House of Representatives, and to the Congressional Record by
date and page (e.g., January 3, 1953, p. 500).
``This Committee was established in 1820 (IV, 4149).
In 1880 the subject of forestry was added to its
jurisdiction, and the Committee was conferred authority
to receive estimates of and to report appropriations
(IV, 4149). However, on July 1, 1920, authority to
report appropriations for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture was transferred to the Committee on
Appropriations (VII, 1860).
The basic form of the present jurisdictional
statement was made effective January 2, 1947, as a part
of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (60 Stat.
812). Subparagraph (7) was altered by the 93d Congress,
effective January 3, 1975, to include jurisdiction over
agricultural commodities (including the Commodity
Credit Corporation) while transferring jurisdiction
over foreign distribution and nondomestic production of
commodities to the Committee on International Relations
(H. Res. 988, 93d Cong., Oct 8, 1974, p. 34470).
Nevertheless, the Committee has retained a limited
jurisdiction over measures to release CCC stocks for
such foreign distribution (Sept. 14, 1989, p. 20428).
Previously unstated jurisdictions over commodities
exchanges and rural development were codified effective
January 3, 1975.
The 104th Congress consolidated the Committee's
jurisdiction over inspection of livestock and meat
products to include inspection of poultry, seafood, and
seafood products, and added subparagraph (20) relating
to water conservation (sec. 202(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4,
1995, p. 464). Clerical and stylistic changes were
effected when the House recodified its rules in the
106th Congress (H. Res. 5. Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).
The Committee has had jurisdiction of bills for
establishing and regulating the Department of
Agriculture (IV, 4150), for inspection of livestock and
meat products, regulation of animal industry, diseases
of animals (IV, 4154; VII, 1862), adulteration of
seeds, insect pests, protection of birds and animals in
forest reserves (IV, 4157; VII, 1870), the improvement
of the breed of horses, even with the cavalry service
in view (IV, 4158; VII, 1865), and in addition to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, amending Horse
Protection Act to prevent the shipping, transporting,
moving, delivering, or receiving of horses to be
slaughtered for human consumption (July 13, 2006, p.
5207).
The Committee, having charge of the general subject
of forestry, has reported bills relating to timber, and
forest reserves other than those created from the
public domain (IV, 4160). The Committee on Natural
Resources, and not this committee, has jurisdiction
over a bill to convey land that is part of a National
Forest created from the public domain (March 23, 2004,
p. 4926). It has also exercised jurisdiction of bills
relating to agricultural colleges and experiment
stations (IV, 4152), incorporation of agricultural
societies (IV, 4159), and establishment of a highway
commission (IV, 4153), to discourage fictitious and
gambling transactions in farm products (IV, 4161; VII,
1861), to regulate the transportation, sale and
handling of dogs and cats intended for use in research
and the licensing of animal research facilities (July
29, 1965, p. 18691); and to designate an agricultural
research center (May 14, 1995, p. 11070). The Committee
shares with the Committee on the Judiciary jurisdiction
over a bill comprehensively amending the Immigration
and Nationality Act and including food stamp
eligibility requirements for aliens (Sept. 19, 1995, p.
25533).
The House referred the President's message dealing
with the refinancing of farm-mortgage indebtedness to
the Committee, thus conferring jurisdiction (April 4,
1933, p. 1209).
The Committee has jurisdiction over a bill relating
solely to executive level position in the Department of
Agriculture (Mar. 2, 1976, p. 4958) and has
jurisdiction over bills to develop land and water
conservation programs on private and non-federal lands
(June 7, 1976, p. 16768).''
Some of the specific areas in which the Committee on
Agriculture exercises its jurisdiction or that have been
created for the Committee by historical reference include:
(1) Public Law 480, Eighty-third Congress, the restoration,
expansion, and development of foreign markets for
United States agricultural products; and the effect
of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (and
the North American Free Trade Agreement), bilateral
free trade agreements, the European Community, and
other regional economic agreements and commodity
marketing and pricing systems on United States
agriculture.
(2) All matters relating to the establishment and
development of an effective Foreign Agricultural
Service.
(3) Matters relating to rural development, including rural
telephone companies, farm credit banks, farm rural
housing loans, rural water supply, rural flood
control and water pollution control programs, and
loans for rural firehouses, community facilities,
and businesses.
(4) Production and use of energy from agricultural and
forestry resources.
(5) Matters relating to the development, use, and
administration of the National Forests, including,
but not limited to, development of a sound program
for general public use of the National Forests
consistent with watershed protection and sustained-
yield timber management, study of the forest fire
prevention and control policies and activities of
the Forest Service and their relation to
coordinated activities of other federal, state, and
private agencies; Forest Service land exchanges;
and wilderness and similar use designations applied
to National Forest land.
(6) Price spreads of agricultural commodities between
producers and consumers.
(7) The formulation and development of improved programs
for agricultural commodities; matters relating to
the inspection, grading, and marketing of such
commodities, including seafood; and food safety
generally.
(8) Matters relating to trading in futures contracts for
all commodities and similar instruments, including
commodity options and commodity leverage contracts.
(9) The administration and operation of agricultural
programs through state and county committees and
the administrative policies and procedures relating
to the selection, election, and operation of such
committees.
(10) The administration and development of small watershed
programs under Public Law 566, Eighty-third
Congress, as amended, and the development of
resource conservation and development programs for
rural areas.
(11) Programs of food assistance or distribution supported
in whole or in part by funds of the Department of
Agriculture, including but not limited to the food
stamp program and the commodity distribution
program.
(12) Aquaculture programs of the Department of Agriculture.
(13) Sugar legislation, including import control programs
that stabilize domestic prices.
(14) All matters relating to pesticides, the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as
amended, the Federal Environmental Pesticide
Control Act of 1972, the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Amendments of 1988,
and the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996,
including, but not limited to, the registration,
marketing, and safe use of pesticides, groundwater
contamination, and the coordination of the
pesticide program under FIFRA with food safety
programs.
(15) Agricultural research programs, including, but not
limited to, the authorization of specific research
projects and agricultural biotechnology development
efforts.
(16) All matters relating to the Commodity Credit
Corporation Charter Act.
(17) Legislation relating to the control of the entry into
the United States of temporary, nonresident aliens
for employment in agricultural production.
(18) Legislation relating to the general operations and the
Organic Act of the Department of Agriculture, the
Commodity Credit Corporation, Federal Crop
Insurance Corporation, Farm Credit Administration,
Farm Credit System, Federal Agricultural Mortgage
Corporation, and Commodity Futures Trading
Commission.
(19) Producer-funded research, promotion, and consumer and
industry information programs for agricultural
commodities.
(20) Legislation regarding reclamation water projects where
the pricing of water delivered by such projects is
affected by whether the water will be used in the
production of a crop for which an acreage reduction
program is in effect.
(21) Legislation regarding reclamation water projects for
which the Secretary of Agriculture is required to
make a determination regarding commodity
availability prior to the determination of the
price to be charged for the delivery of such
project water.
(22) Legislation establishing the level of fees charged by
the federal government for the grazing of livestock
on federal lands.
(23) Legislation governing the federal regulation of
transactions involving swaps contracts, hybrid
financial instruments, and derivative securities
and financial products.
(24) Legislation regarding the Federal Reserve Board with
respect to its authority to regulate the
establishment of appropriate levels of margin on
stock index futures contracts.
The Committee also reviews and studies, on a continuing
basis, the current and prospective application, administration,
execution, and effectiveness of those laws, or parts of laws,
the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of the
Committee, and the organization and operation of the federal
agencies and entities having responsibilities in or for the
administration and execution thereof. In addition, the
Committee, along with other standing Committees of the House,
has the function of reviewing and studying on a continuing
basis the effect or probable effect of tax and other fiscal and
monetary policies affecting subjects within their jurisdiction.
C. OVERSIGHT PLAN
Pursuant to House Rules, the Committee fulfilled oversight
requirements of rule X, clause 2(d)(1) of the Rules of the U.S.
House of Representatives for the 118th Congress with the
transmittal of the Committee's Oversight plan to the Committee
on Oversight and Government Accountability and the Committee on
House Administration on February 8, 2023. This plan was
prepared in consultation with the Ranking Member and was
presented to the Members of the Committee, with proper notice,
for their consideration.
While much of the work in the 118th Congress will focus on
reauthorizing the farm bill, the Committee and its
subcommittees expect to exercise appropriate oversight activity
regarding the issues listed below. The Committee will also have
a general focus on the condition of the farm economy and will
conduct any other general oversight as necessary. The Committee
will consult, as appropriate, with other committees of the
House that may share subject matter interest.
The Committee expects to exercise appropriate oversight
activity with regard to the following issues:
2018 FARM BILL AND CURRENT AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS
Review the current state of the U.S. farm economy;
Review the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA)
implementation of the Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018;
Review programs for waste, fraud, abuse and
mismanagement;
Review the state of credit conditions and
availability in rural America;
Review the effect of weather conditions on crop
production;
Review of the market situation, including effect of
crop reports and projections;
Review USDA's implementation of the U.S. Grain
Standards and U.S. Warehouse Acts;
Review how Administrative Pay-Go is affecting
Department actions;
Review discretionary actions by USDA that are not
directly authorized by legislation, including the
Secretary's use of the Commodity Credit Corporation;
and
Review the National Appeals Division (NAD) at USDA.
Conservation and the Environment
Review the regulatory activities of the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and how such
activities effect agricultural productivity, including
EPA's regulations under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and
Clean Air Act (CAA);
Review EPA grant program activities that impact
agriculture;
Review the effect of regulatory activities carried
out pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or
any proposed legislative changes to such Act, on
agricultural producers;
Review the effect of the Administration's regulatory
activity regarding crop protection tools on production
of agriculture in the U.S.;
Review regulatory activities by the Securities and
Exchange Commission, specifically the Rules to Enhance
and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for
Investors and how such activities effect agriculture
producers;
Review budget and program activities of the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS);
Review implementation of all of USDA's conservation
programs;
Review USDA's implementation of the conservation
compliance provisions in the Agriculture Improvement
Act of 2018;
Review ongoing discussions and potential
consequences for American agriculture under the United
Nations Climate Change Conference;
Review EPA's implementation of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA),
the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022
(PRIA V), and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA);
Review EPA's regulation of Animal Feeding
Operations; and
Review Total Maximum Daily Load strategies and
effects on production agriculture.
Federal Crop Insurance, Commodity Policy, and Risk Management
Review USDA's implementation of crop insurance
provisions of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018;
Review implementation and effectiveness of Commodity
Title programs, including the Agriculture Risk Coverage
program, the Price Loss Coverage program, and marketing
assistance loans;
Review the role and effectiveness of federal crop
insurance;
Review the Risk Management Agency's (RMA)
administration and oversight of federal crop insurance;
Review the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) and
the terms and conditions for private sector delivery,
including reimbursement rates for Administrative and
Operating (A&O) expenses and agent commissions;
Review the availability of crop insurance as a risk
management tool;
Review the adequacy and availability of risk
management tools for the livestock, dairy, and
specialty crop industries;
Review USDA's activities established to identify and
reduce crop insurance waste, fraud, and abuse;
Review USDA's crop insurance rating methodology;
Review RMA's yield and revenue protection crop
insurance products;
Review RMA's progress in approving crop insurance
products for underserved commodities, underserved
producers, and underserved regions;
Review implementation and effectiveness of standing
disaster programs including the Livestock Indemnity
Program (LIP), Livestock Forage Program (LFP),
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and
Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), and the Tree
Assistance Program (TAP) as well as ad hoc disaster
assistance programs including the Wildfire and
Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+), the Emergency
Relief Program (ERP), and the Emergency Livestock
Relief Program (ELRP); and
Review data sharing between FSA and RMA.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Derivatives
Markets
Review the general operations of the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to provide a
reauthorization of the Commission;
Review enforcement and oversight policies and their
implementation by the CFTC;
Review rulemakings, guidance, and other actions
taken by the Commission and its staff for consistency
and compliance with the Commodity Exchange Act and
Congressional intent;
Review the impact of emerging commodity markets and
financial technologies and examine the authority of the
Commission to deter fraud and manipulation, promote
market integrity, and protect investors in digital
commodity derivatives and at organized digital
commodity trading platforms;
Examine existing and novel derivatives market
structures to promote market integrity, support the
needs of end-users, and expand access to risk
management tools;
Review the impact of COVID-19 and increasing
commodity market volatility on derivatives markets;
Review international treatment of the U.S.
derivatives industry, including market participants and
infrastructure; and
Review the risk-mitigation, resilience, and recovery
planning of the Commission, registered entities, and
registrants.
Agriculture Trade and International Food Aid
Review tariff and non-tariff trade barriers
currently applied by agricultural product producing
countries around the world;
Review ongoing multilateral, regional, and bilateral
trade negotiations and dialogues (including World Trade
Organization (WTO) accession agreements) to assess
their potential effect on U.S. agriculture;
Review implementation of existing trade agreements
and commitments as well as proposed frameworks, trade
agreements and commitments to determine:
(1) whether they are consistent with current U.S. law;
(2) whether they will promote economic development in rural
areas of the U.S.;
(3) their effect or potential effect on current production
of import sensitive agricultural commodities, and on
exports of U.S. agricultural products;
(4) their effect or potential effect on the overall
competitiveness of the U.S. agricultural sector,
including the production, processing and distribution
of agricultural products; and
(5) whether the agreements provide adequate, enforceable
provisions to minimize non-tariff barriers to U.S.
exports;
Monitor existing trade agreements to ensure trading
partners are meeting obligations and enforcing trade
commitments;
Review agricultural export programs to determine how
well they are promoting the interests of U.S.
agriculture and examine proposals to improve, modify or
expand such programs;
Review U.S. food aid programs to determine their
effect or potential effect on the reduction of world
hunger--particularly the potential effect of trade
negotiations on the effectiveness of U.S. food aid
programs;
Review USDA and USAID's implementation of the Global
Food Security Act (GFSA);
Review the market assessments USDA and USAID use to
evaluate the potential impact of U.S. food aid on
recipient countries;
Review USAID's increasing use of cash-based food
aid, including financial controls and impact on
resiliency;
Review monitoring and evaluation activities carried
out by USDA and USAID; and
Review sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers and
other technical barriers to U.S. agricultural exports
and examine efforts to eliminate such barriers.
Agricultural Research and Promotion
Review USDA's implementation of research, education
and extension programs authorized in the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018;
Review the administration of the Agricultural
Research Service research stations and worksites;
Review USDA's foreign animal disease research,
training and diagnostic programs at the National Bio
and Agro-Defense Facility;
Review USDA's regulation of organic standards and
the collection of organic production and market data;
Review administration of the National Institute of
Food and Agriculture (NIFA);
Review the administration of the Agricultural Food
Research Initiative and other competitive grant
programs;
Review efforts to leverage federal research
investment with state, local, and private sources of
funding;
Review coordination between ARS, the Economic
Research Service (ERS), NIFA and other USDA agencies to
prevent duplicative research across the department;
Evaluate the current mix of research funding
mechanisms to ensure maximum benefits from these
investments to producers, processors, and consumers;
Review administration of USDA's marketing and
promotion programs;
Review coordination between USDA and the Department
of Energy on carbon sequestration and energy research
programs;
Review the sufficiency of research funding under
ARS, ERS, the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS) and NIFA;
Review ARS, ERS, NASS and NIFA national program
priorities;
Review activities funded by the Biomass Research and
Development Act (BRDA) and input from the external BRDA
Advisory Board; and
Conduct oversight of the research grant process to
coordinate and prevent overlapping research.
Biotechnology
Review current regulations and research regarding
animal and plant biotechnology;
Review the Administration's efforts to modernize the
regulatory framework for genetically engineered
animals;
Assess USDA's efforts to develop and promote the
benefits of biotechnology for increasing agricultural
productivity and combating hunger globally; and
Review USDA's implementation of biotechnology
labeling standards.
U.S. Forest Service Administration
Review the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS) strategy for
dealing with wildfire, including the effect of
hazardous fuels management, forest health efforts and
fire preparedness;
Continue to monitor the effectiveness and efficiency
of the USFS fire management program;
Review the effect of fire expenses on other USFS
program delivery;
Assess the USFS strategy for timber harvesting on
federal lands;
Review effects of environmental regulations on
National Forest land management;
Review economic effects of National Forest land
management on rural communities;
Review USFS efforts to utilize public-private
partnerships that promote active forest management and
forest health;
Review the impact of invasive species and disease on
forests and landscapes;
Review USFS efforts to promote utilization of
National Forest biomass for renewable energy purposes;
and
Review USFS's management tools contained in the farm
bill and other recent legislation.
Dairy
Review USDA's implementation of the dairy risk
management provisions in the Agriculture Improvement
Act of 2018;
Review options to improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of dairy programs; and
Review the effectiveness of the Federal Milk
Marketing Order system.
Outreach and Civil Rights
Review the operations of the Office of Partnerships
and Public Engagement;
Review of the operations of the office of the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights;
Review USDA's process for evaluating and settling
discrimination claims; and
Review the current status of the Agricultural Census
and efforts to reach undercounted farmers and ranchers.
USDA General Administration
Review confidentiality of information provided to
USDA by agricultural producers;
Review USDA's implementation of field office
consolidation for the purpose of effectively and
efficiently delivering commodity, conservation, energy
and rural development programs;
Review USDA's current staffing plan and related
infrastructure;
Review USDA's efforts to modernize its Information
Technology (IT) systems; and
Review the administrative structure of USDA for
effectiveness and efficiency.
Farm Credit, Rural Development, and the Rural Economy
Review the Farm Credit Administration's (FCA)
regulatory program and activities regarding the Farm
Credit System (FCS) to assure its safety and soundness;
Review the activities and programs of the Federal
Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (also referred to as
Farmer Mac);
Review FSA's direct and guaranteed loan programs and
graduation efforts;
Review the Rural Electrification Act (REA);
Review the farm economy and access to credit;
Review access to essential utility services in rural
America;
Review implementation of rural development policies
and authorities contained in the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 and the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act;
Conduct oversight of the USDA's rural broadband
programs;
Review technology, processes, and controls at Rural
Development to increase program access, improve
application evaluation, and speed application
decisions;
Conduct oversight of the implementation of USDA's
telecommunications programs;
Assess the state of rural water systems and
effectiveness of federal funding to build and upgrade
those systems;
Assess the effectiveness of USDA programs targeted
toward rural infrastructure, business needs, and job
creation;
Review agricultural lending practices;
Review public-private partnerships in lending
through guaranteed loans;
Review the definition of ``rural'' under rural
development programs;
Review USDA's programs to support rural access to
health care and health services;
Review USDA Rural Development's use of the funding
provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act, the American Rescue Plan,
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the
Inflation Reduction Act;
Review rural development loan programs and default
rates; and
Review the success of rural development programs in
persistent poverty areas.
Energy
Assess energy programs authorized by the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018;
Review availability of agriculture and forestry
feedstocks for renewable energy production;
Review current status of research on energy crops
and feedstocks;
Review current provisions in existing law that
support agriculture-based energy production and use;
Review USDA's biofuel initiatives;
Review implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard
(RFS); and
Review renewable fuel programs and their effect on
agriculture.
USDA Food and Nutrition Programs
Review food and nutrition programs including the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
fruit, vegetable, and dairy initiatives, The Emergency
Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Food Distribution
Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and other
commodity distribution programs;
Review household eligibility criteria for SNAP;
Review the interaction between SNAP and other low-
income assistance programs;
Review the efficiency and accountability of the SNAP
Employment & Training program;
Review educational initiatives such as SNAP-Ed and
the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
(EFNEP);
Review efforts by USDA and the states to promote
program integrity and combat error, fraud, and abuse
within nutrition programs;
Review efforts by USDA to promote technology
improvements and encourage innovation in the electronic
benefits transfer system;
Review efforts by state SNAP administrators to
modernize and streamline their programs; and
Review the implementation and impact of the National
Accuracy Clearinghouse.
Food Loss and Waste
Review current activities and future opportunities
within USDA programs to reduce food loss and waste.
Specialty Crops
Review implementation of the Specialty Crop
Competitiveness Act;
Review the Specialty Crop Block Grant program to
ensure the grants awarded are enhancing the specialty
crop industry;
Review the Local Agriculture Market Program and
other farmers market programs;
Review the administration of the IR-4 Project to
ensure specialty crop growers have access to the latest
innovations in crop protection; and
Review the Specialty Crop Research Initiative.
Food Safety
Review USDA's administration of meat, poultry, and
egg product inspection laws to ensure the maintenance
of scientifically sound systems for food safety
assurance;
Review USDA's efforts to educate consumers regarding
safe food handling practices and streamline the
assessment and approval of food safety technologies;
Review development and implementation of new
protocols for meat, poultry, eggs, or seafood safety
inspection that promote scientific and technological
innovation;
Review USDA's response to litigation regarding the
implementation of food safety inspection programs;
Review rulemaking concerning the Food Safety
Modernization Act and the impact those rules have on
production agriculture in the U.S.; and
Review the mechanisms to establish scientifically
based international food safety standards.
Plant and Animal Health
Review USDA's implementation and enforcement of the
Plant Protection Act, Animal Health Protection Act, and
Animal Welfare Act;
Review U.S. animal health threats and related
prevention and response capabilities including animal
health programs established in the 2018 Farm Bill;
Assess federal efforts to reduce threats to plant
health due to invasive species;
Review implementation and effectiveness of
cooperative plant health programs, including Plant Pest
and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention and the
Clean Plant Network;
Review efforts to reduce and resolve livestock
predation, conflicts between wildlife and people, and
wildlife damage; and
Review USDA's efforts to modernize animal disease
traceability.
Livestock Marketing
Review USDA's implementation of the Packers and
Stockyards Act including the promulgation of new rules
under such Act;
Review the implementation of USDA efforts to enhance
market transparency including the cattle contracts
library pilot program;
Review USDA efforts to diversify and increase
processing capacity; and
Review and reauthorize USDA's livestock mandatory
reporting program.
Homeland and Agricultural Security
Examine USDA's preparedness against terrorist
threats to production agriculture;
Review cooperative efforts between the Department of
Homeland Security and USDA to protect against foreign
animal disease;
Review agricultural inspection activities under the
Department of Homeland Security; and
Review implementation of the Agricultural Foreign
Investment Disclosure Act and related oversight of
foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land.
Miscellaneous
Review the effects of sequestration on USDA
operations and programs;
Review the cost and impact of appropriations and
programming related to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as
funding and programming found in the Inflation
Reduction Act; and
Review the effect of transportation infrastructure
issues on agriculture and forestry.
Consultation With Other Committees To Reduce Duplication
With Natural Resources on forestry issues, ESA
issues and other public land issues;
With Science, Space, and Technology on research;
With Ways and Means and Education and the Workforce
on nutrition programs;
With Ways and Means on tax and trade issues;
With Homeland Security on biodefense, cybersecurity,
and border inspection and security measures related to
agriculture;
With Armed Services on global and military food
security;
With the Judiciary on immigrant agricultural labor;
With Energy and Commerce on food safety, biomass
energy, and broadband programs, both existing and new;
With Transportation and Infrastructure on certain
Clean Water Act compliance issues, livestock hauling,
and food aid delivery;
With Financial Services on Dodd-Frank Act and
emerging financial technology issues;
With Foreign Affairs on food aid and trade issues;
With Small Business on addressing economic
opportunities for rural America; and
Any other committee as appropriate.
AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE 118TH CONGRESS
Most of the programs and authorities under the purview of
the House Committee on Agriculture are reauthorized every five
years through the farm bill. The current Farm Bill expires on
September 30, 2023. During the 118th Congress, the Committee
intends to conduct a thorough review of all farm bill programs
culminating in the reauthorization of the farm bill. Farm bill
preparation will begin with hearings, both in Washington and in
the field, to hear from producers and USDA about how the
programs are working. Although dependent on timing in the
Senate, it is the Committee's goal to reauthorize the farm bill
before it expires.
Though historically not part of the farm bill negotiations,
the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) program is also set to
expire on September 30, 2023. This authority has been subject
to several short-term extensions during the 117th Congress and
the Committee remains committed to the reauthorization of this
program to give much needed certainty to the livestock
industry.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission was last
reauthorized in 2008, and that authorization lapsed in 2013.
Since then, the House Committee on Agriculture has produced and
reported four separate reauthorization bills, three of which
have passed the House. During the 118th Congress, the Committee
again intends to conduct a thorough review of the Commission's
operations and authorities, culminating in a legislative
package reauthorizing the Commission. With the engagement and
cooperation of the Senate, the Committee's goal is to
reauthorize the Commission before the end of the 118th
Congress.
AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE 119TH CONGRESS
The U.S. Grain Standards Act is slated to expire on
September 30, 2025. The Committee fully intends to reauthorize
the program in a timely manner.
II. Committee Activities During The 118th Congress
A. MAIN LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
The Committee on Agriculture reported or otherwise
considered a variety of bills in the 118th Congress covering
many of the diverse areas within its jurisdiction.
Some of the major activities of the Committee during the
118th Congress included the following:
Agenda for the House Agriculture Committee
The Agriculture Committee approached its business in
an open, transparent, manner and maintained the strong
bipartisan tradition of the Committee. The Committee
continued its oversight of the implementation of the
Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334).
The Agriculture Committee held 27 Committee hearings
and five business meetings during the 118th Congress.
The Committee also hosted seven listening sessions
throughout 2023, providing farmers, ranchers,
producers, and rural citizens the opportunity to
provide direct feedback and suggestions to Committee
Members about issues of importance to them. These
listening sessions were held in Tulare, California;
Waco, Texas; Binghamton, New York; Newberry, Florida;
Albany, Oregon; Freeport, Maine; and Redwood County,
Minnesota.
The Committee heard testimony from 13 Administration
officials, specifically U.S. Department of Agriculture
representatives as well as Administration officials
from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and
Environmental Protection Agency. Additional testimony
heard by the Committee was offered by Members of
Congress, a Governor, university research, nonprofit
organizations, trade groups, and farmers and ranchers
from across the United States for a total of 129
witnesses.
The House Agriculture Committee participated in the
successful passage of the following bills within its
jurisdiction, which ultimately became laws:
P.L. 118-5 (H.R. 3746), Fiscal Responsibility
Act of 2023
P.L. 118-31 (H.R. 2670), National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
P.L. 118-94 (S. 612), Lake Tahoe Restoration
Reauthorization Act
P.L. 118-122 (H.R. 4366), Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2024
P.L. 118-158 (H.R. 10545), American Relief
Act, 2025
P.L. 118-159 (H.R. 5009), Servicemember
Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
P.L. 118-191 (S. 759), Beagle Brigade Act of
2023.
P.L. 118-198 (S. 3791), America's Conservation
Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024.
The House Agriculture Committee held 16 hearings to
examine the reauthorization of the farm bill. The
hearings reviewed all 12 titles of the Agricultural
Improvement Act of 2018 and explored the various
programs that are working and those that need to be
improved upon.
The House Agriculture Committee successfully drafted
and passed out of the Committee bipartisan legislation
to reauthorize the farm bill, the Farm, Food, and
National Security Act of 2024 (H.R. 8467). This
legislation was the product of a multi-year process
that was done in public with input from all
perspectives. Ultimately, this was not considered in
the House. In addition to the farm bill, the House
Agriculture Committee successfully passed out of the
committee five bipartisan bills (H.R. 662, H.R. 1450,
H.R. 1713, H.R. 1480, and H.R. 1697). A Senate version
of H.R. 1480, S. 759, passed the House and ultimately
became law (P.L. 118-191).
B. STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
(1) Statistics on bills referred to the Committee on
Agriculture
Number of bills referred:
House bills................................................ 751
Senate bills............................................... 0
House joint resolutions.................................... 4
House concurrent resolutions............................... 3
Senate joint resolutions................................... 0
Senate concurrent resolutions.............................. 0
House resolutions.......................................... 33
------------
Total.................................................... 791
(2) Disposition of Bills Containing Items Under the
Jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture
Bills enacted into law..................................... 8
Bills acted on by the Committee included in other bills 0
that became law...........................................
Bills vetoed............................................... 0
Bills acted on by both Houses, but not enacted............. 2
Bills acted on by the House but not the Senate............. 17
Concurrent Resolutions approved............................ 0
Bills reported to the House but not considered............. 2
Bills ordered reported, but not reported................... 1
Bills defeated in the House................................ 0
(3) Statistics on hearings and markups
Field
Business Hearings/ Hearings/
Full Committee/Subcommittee Meeting Forums Listening
Sessions
Full Committee on Agriculture.......... 5 13 7
Subcommittee on General Farm 1
Commodities, Risk Management, and
Credit................................
Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, *4
Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, 3
and Biotechnology.....................
Subcommittee on Forestry............... 2
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and 2
Poultry...............................
Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign **2
Agriculture, and Horticulture.........
--------------------------------
Total................................ 5 27 7
*Note: this includes the joint hearing held between the Subcommittee on
Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion, Committee on
Financial Services and Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural
Development, Committee on Agriculture.
**Note: this includes the joint hearing held between the Subcommittee on
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and
Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations and the Nutrition,
Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture, Committee on Agriculture.
C. DIGEST OF BILLS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON WHICH
ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN
1. Bills enacted into Law
P.L. 118-5, Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (H.R. 3746)
H.R. 3746 was introduced by Representative Patrick T.
McHenry on May 29, 2023. This bill was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means in addition to the Committees on
Budget, Appropriations, Veterans' Affairs, Rules,
Transportation and Infrastructure, Judiciary, Education and the
Workforce, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Financial
Services, Natural Resources, Small Business, and Homeland
Security. On May 31, 2023, the House passed the bill by a vote
of 314 yeas to 117 nays. The bill passed the Senate without
amendment by a vote of 63 yeas to 36 nays on June 1, 2023. On
June 3, 2023, the President signed the bill.
This Act increases the federal debt limit, establishes new
discretionary spending limits, rescinds unobligated funds,
expands work requirements for federal programs, and modifies
other requirements related to the federal budget process.
The following provisions were contained in title I of
division B of P.L. 118-5.
Sections 3 and 4. Unobligated COVID-19 funds provided to
the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support agricultural
producers, growers, and processors. These sections rescind
unobligated funds that were provided to the USDA to support
agricultural producers, growers, and processors impacted by
COVID-19.
Sec. 5. Unobligated COVID-19 funds provided to the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the Local
Agriculture Market Program. This section rescinds unobligated
funds that were provided to the USDA for the Local Agriculture
Market Program.
Sec. 6. Unobligated COVID-19 funds provided to the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the Farming
Opportunities Training and Outreach Grant Program. This section
rescinds unobligated funds that were provided to the USDA for
the Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Grant Program.
Sec. 7. Unobligated COVID-19 funds provided to the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the Dairy Donation
Program. This section rescinds unobligated funds that were
provided to the USDA for the Dairy Donation Program.
Sec. 8. Unobligated COVID-19 funds provided to the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants for
improvements to meat and poultry facilities to allow for
interstate shipment. This section rescinds unobligated funds
that were provided to the USDA to provide grants for
improvements to meat and poultry facilities to allow for
interstate shipment.
Sec. 9. Unobligated COVID-19 funds provided to the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the Food Supply
Chain and Agriculture Pandemic Response Program. This section
rescinds unobligated funds that were provided to the USDA for
the Food Supply Chain and Agriculture Pandemic Response
Program.
Sec. 60. Unobligated COVID-19 funds provided to the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the Rural Utilities
Service for the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband
Program. This section rescinds unobligated funds that were
provided to the USDA for the Rural Utilities Service for the
Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program.
Sec. 61. Unobligated COVID-19 funds provided to the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the Specialty Crop
Block Grant Program. This section rescinds unobligated funds
that were provided to the USDA for the Rural Utilities Service
for the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program.
Sec. 62. Unobligated COVID-19 funds provided to the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the Emergency Rural
Health Care program. This section rescinds unobligated funds
that were provided to the USDA for the Rural Utilities Service
for the Emergency Rural Health Care program.
Sec. 63. Unobligated COVID-19 funds provided to the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the Rural Housing
Service for direct loans for single family housing and repairs
to single family homes. This section rescinds unobligated funds
that were provided to the USDA to support the Rural Housing
Service for direct loans for single family housing and repairs
to single family homes.
The following provisions were contained in title II of
division C of P.L. 118-5.
Sec. 311. Work requirements for SNAP recipients who are
able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). This section
expands applicability of the work requirements for SNAP
recipients who are ABAWDs.
Sec. 312. Prohibition on state agencies accumulating unused
exemptions to the able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD)
work requirement and providing to eligible SNAP recipients
beyond the subsequent fiscal year. This section prohibits a
state agency from accumulating unused exemptions to the ABAWD
work requirement and providing them to eligible SNAP recipients
beyond the subsequent fiscal year.
Sec. 313. SNAP Expansion. This section expands the purpose
of SNAP to include assisting low-income adults in obtaining
employment and increasing their earnings.
Sec. 314. SNAP Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents
(AWAWD) Waiver Program. This section requires the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) to make public all available state requests
for waivers from the SNAP ABAWD work requirements and the
approvals of the requests within 30 days of the enactment of
this Act.
P.L. 118-94, Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act (S.
612)
S. 612 was introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto on
March 1, 2023. This bill was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources. The Committee reported the bill
without amendment where it subsequently passed the Senate
without amendment by voice vote. In the house, the bill was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources in addition to
the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and
Agriculture. On September 23, 2024, the Committee on
Agriculture discharged the bill. On September 24, 2024, the
House passed the bill by voice vote under suspension of the
rules. On October 1, 2024, the President signed the bill.
This bill reauthorizes through September 30, 2034,
activities to restore Lake Tahoe and its surrounding basin.
P.L. 118-191 (S. 759), Beagle Brigade Act of 2023
S. 759 was introduced by Senator Raphael Warnock on March
9, 2023. On November 21, 2024, the Senate passed the bill
without amendment by Unanimous Consent. The bill was held at
the desk and on December 18, 2024, the bill was considered
under suspension of the rules and passed the house by a vote of
381 yeas and 20 nays. The President signed the bill into law on
December 23, 2024.
The bill provides statutory authority for the National
Detector Dog Training Center that is operated by the Animal
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the Department of
Agriculture. The center trains dogs to inspect passenger
baggage, cargo, mailed packages, and vehicles to detect foreign
pests and diseases that threaten domestic agriculture and
natural resources.
The bill also requires APHIS to report to Congress on (1)
current and emerging threats to domestic agricultural and
natural resources from foreign pests and diseases, and (2)
recommendations to improve the center's capabilities and
procedures.
Other Legislative Matters
P.L. 118-15, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other
Extensions Act (H.R. 5860)
H.R. 5680 was introduced in the House on September 30,
2023, by Representative Kay Granger. The bill passed the House
on September 30, 2023, by a vote of 335 yeas to 91 nays. The
bill subsequently passed the Senate by a vote of 88 yeas and 9
nays on September 30, 2023. The President signed the bill into
law on September 30, 2023.
The continuing resolution funded most programs and
activities at the FY 2023 levels with several exceptions that
provide funding flexibility and additional appropriations for
various programs.
The following provisions were contained in division A.
Sec. 116. This section allows the Department of
Agriculture's (USDA's) Farm Service Agency to apportion funding
for the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program account at
the rate necessary to accommodate approved applications for
direct and guaranteed farm ownership loans.
Sec. 117. This section allows USDA to apportion funding at
the rate necessary to maintain activities for the Rural Housing
Service's Rental Assistance Program.
Sec. 118. This section allows USDA to apportion funding at
the rate necessary to maintain participation in the Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
(WIC).
Sec. 119. This section allows USDA to apportion funding at
the rate necessary to maintain the current program caseload for
the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
Sec. 120. This section extends various authorities under
the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999, which requires
buyers of live cattle, swine, and lamb and sellers of wholesale
beef, pork, and lamb to report prices, volumes, and other
marketing characteristics to USDA's Agricultural Marketing
Service.
P.L. 118-158, American Relief Act, 2025 (H.R. 10545)
H.R. 10545 was introduced by Representative Tom Cole on
December 20, 2024. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Appropriations, in addition to the Committee on the Budget. On
December 20, 2024, the bill was considered under suspension of
the rules and agreed to by a vote of 366 yeas, 34 nays, and 1
present vote. On December 21, 2024, the Senate passed the bill
by a vote of 85 yeas and 11 nays. On December 21, 2024, the
President signed the bill.
The continuing resolution funded most programs and
activities through March 14, 2025. The legislation also
extended the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-
334) and provided disaster relief and economic assistance to
farmers.
2. Bills Acted on by the House But Not the Senate
H.R. 1, Lower Energy Costs Act
H.R. 1 was introduced by Representative Steve Scalise on
March 14, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, in addition to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on the
Budget. On March 30, 2023, the House passed the bill by a vote
of 225 yeas and 204 nays.
The following provisions were contained in title I of
division B of H.R. 1.
Sec. 20112. This section requires the Department of
Interior and the National Forest Service to annually report on
their staffing capacity and plans to ensure adequate resources
to process and issue oil, gas, hardrock mining, coal, and
renewable energy leases, rights-of-way, claims, easements, and
permits.
Sec. 20113. This section bans the Communist Party of China,
any person acting on behalf of the party, or any entity owned
by or subject to the jurisdiction of China from acquiring any
interest with respect to (1) lands leased for oil or gas under
the Mineral Leasing Act or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands
Act, (2) farmland, (3) lands used for renewable energy
production, or (4) claims subject to the General Mining Law of
1872.
The following provisions were contained in title II of
division B of H.R. 1.
Sec. 20201. This section defines the terms used in this
title. It defines public land to mean any land and interest in
land owned by the United States and administered by the
Department of Interior or the Forest Service without regard to
how the United States acquired ownership, except (1) lands
located on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); and (2) lands
held in trust by the United States for the benefit of Indians,
Indian tribes, Aleuts, and Eskimos.
Sec. 20209. In FY2023-FY2025, the Forest Service and the
Department of Interior may accept and expend funds contributed
by non-federal entities to pay for dedicated staff and
technology development to expedite activities for leasing,
development, or expansion of an energy facility.
Sec. 20224. Among other requirements, this section
establishes deadlines for the Department of Interior and the
Forest Service to review a vegetation management, facility
inspection, and operation and maintenance plan submitted by an
electric transmission or distribution facility located on
public lands.
Sec. 20225. This section allows the Department of Interior
to categorically exclude from the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (NEPA) requirements (1) the development and
approval of vegetation management, facility inspection, and
operation and maintenance plan, and (2) the implementation of
routine activities conducted under the plan. Such activities do
not include establishing a permanent road. However, the
categorical exclusion does not apply to any forest management
activity conducted in a component of the National Wilderness
Preservation System or on National Forest System lands where
the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited by
Congress.
Sec. 20226. This section requires the Park Service, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Forest Service to
conduct an outreach plan for disseminating and advertising open
civil service positions with functions relating to permitting
or natural resources in their offices.
The following provision was contained in title III of
division B of H.R. 1.
Sec. 20302. This section expands the federal permitting and
review processes under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act for critical minerals. Under such act, the BLM and the
Forest Service, to the maximum extent practicable, must
complete the federal permitting and review processes related to
critical mineral mines on federal lands with maximum efficiency
and effectiveness. This section expands this process to include
all minerals as defined by this title, not only critical
minerals. It also requires the BLM and the Forest Service to
defer to data and reviews from state agencies when completing
such review process.
The following provision was contained in title IV of
division B of H.R. 1.
Sec. 20401. This section prohibits federal land and waters
from being withdrawn from areas where mining activity is
allowed unless four types of assessments are conducted. First,
a mineral assessment of the impacted area must be completed. It
must be completed within the 10-year period before the date of
such withdrawal.
Second, the Department of Interior must assess the
economic, energy, strategic, and national security value of
mineral deposits identified in such mineral resource
assessment.
Third, Interior must assess the reduction in future
revenues resulting from the proposed mineral withdrawal. The
reduction of revenues must be calculated for revenues to the
Treasury, states, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the
Historic Preservation Fund, and the National Parks and Public
Land Legacy Restoration Fund.
Fourth, Interior must assess military readiness and
training activities in the proposed withdrawal area.
Before Interior or the Forest Service may update or
complete a resource management plan or forest management plan
respectively, they must review any mineral resource assessment
conducted for the area affected by the plan. If Interior finds
that a previously undiscovered mineral deposit may be present
in an area that has been withdrawn from mining activity, then
Interior must make recommendations to the President on measures
to reduce unnecessary impacts that a withdrawal may have on
mining activities.
Sec. 20402. The President and executive agencies may not
carry out any action that would pause, restrict, or delay
leasing or permitting activities on federal lands that are open
to energy and mineral development as defined by the section.
The President, BLM, or Forest Service may not rescind any
existing lease, permit, or claim for the extraction and
production of minerals on National Forest System land or BLM
land unless (1) specifically authorized by federal statute; or
(2) the lessee, permittee, or claimant fails to comply with the
provisions of the applicable lease, permit, or claim.
Sec. 20403. This section defines terms used in this title.
It defines federal land to mean (1) National Forest System
land, (2) public lands as defined in section 103 of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, (3) the outer
Continental Shelf as defined in section 2 of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act, and (4) land managed by the
Department of Energy.
H.R. 615, Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of
2023
H.R. 615 was introduced by Representative Robert J. Wittman
on January 27, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, in addition to the Committee on Agriculture.
On April 30, 2023, the House passed the bill by a vote of 214
yeas and 201 nays.
This bill bars the Department of the Interior and the
Department of Agriculture from prohibiting or regulating the
use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal land or water that
is under the jurisdiction of such departments and made
available for hunting or fishing. The bill makes exceptions for
specified existing regulations and where the applicable
department determines that a decline in wildlife population at
the specific unit of federal land or water is primarily caused
by the use of lead in ammunition or tackle, based on the field
data from such unit, and the state approves the regulations.
H.R. 1450, Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors
Act
H.R. 1450 was introduced by Representative Russ Fulcher on
March 8, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, in addition to the Committee on Agriculture,
which reported the bill on May 11, 2023. On September 12, 2023
the bill was considered under suspension of the rules, and on
September 14, was agreed to by voice vote.
This bill revises the Good Neighbor Authority program to
modify the treatment of revenue from timber sale contracts
under good neighbor agreements with the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior. (The
Good Neighbor Authority permits USDA and Interior to enter into
cooperative agreements or contracts with states, counties, and
Indian tribes to perform forest, rangeland, and watershed
restoration services on federal land managed by the Forest
Service or the Bureau of Land Management.)
Specifically, the bill (1) requires Indian tribes and
counties to retain revenue generated from timber sales under a
good neighbor agreement; and (2) allows states, counties, and
Indian tribes to use such revenue for authorized restoration
projects on non-federal lands under a good neighbor agreement.
(Under current law, only a state is permitted to retain the
revenues, and the revenues must be used for restoration
projects on federal land.)
H.R. 1567, Accurately Counting Risk Elimination Solutions
Act (ACRES Act)
H.R. 1567 was introduced by Representative Thomas P.
Tiffany on March 10, 2023. The bill was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture. On September 12, 2023, the bill was considered
under suspension of the rules, and on September 13, 2023, was
agreed to by a vote of 406 yeas and 4 nays.
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and
the Department of the Interior to submit accurate reports
regarding hazardous fuels reduction activity.
Hazardous fuels reduction activity means any vegetation
management activity to reduce the risk of wildfire but excludes
a wildland fire managed for resource benefits and the award of
contracts to conduct hazardous fuels reduction activities.
Specifically, USDA and Interior must:
include in the materials submitted in support of the
President's budget each fiscal year a report on the
number of acres on which such activities were carried
out during the preceding year, and
implement standardized procedures for tracking data
related to such activities.
The standardized procedures must include
regular, standardized data reviews of the accuracy
and timely input of data used to track hazardous fuels
reduction activities;
verification methods that validate whether such data
accurately correlates to such activities;
an analysis of the short- and long-term
effectiveness of such activities on reducing the risk
of wildfire; and
for hazardous fuels reduction activities that occur
partially within the wildland-urban interface, methods
to distinguish which acres are located within and which
located outside the wildland-urban interface.
The Government Accountability Office shall (1) conduct a
study on this bill's implementation, and (2) submit a report to
Congress with the results of the study.
H.R. 1713, DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act
H.R. 1713 was introduced by Representative Frank Lucas on
March 22, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology, in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture, which reported the bill, as amended, on May 11,
2023. On December 4, 2023, the bill was considered under
suspension of the rules and agreed to by voice vote.
This bill requires the Department of Energy and Department
of Agriculture to carry out cross-cutting and collaborative
research and development activities through the establishment
of an interagency agreement.
The agencies are authorized to (1) carry out reimbursable
agreements in order to maximize research and development
effectiveness, and (2) collaborate with other federal agencies.
Further, the interagency agreement must require the use of a
competitive, merit-reviewed process, which considers
applications from federal agencies, national laboratories,
institutions of higher education, and nonprofit institutions.
Research and development activities may include:
collaborative research in a variety of focus areas
such as integrated natural resources and the energy-
water nexus, biofuels and biobased products, invasive
species management, grid modernization and security,
rural technology development, and wildfire risks and
prevention;
developing methods to accommodate large voluntary
standardized and integrated data sets on agricultural,
environmental, supply chain, and economic information;
supporting research infrastructure and workforce
development; and
conducting collaborative research and development on
ways to improve agriculture operations and processing
efficiencies, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
H.R. 1726, Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2023
H.R. 1726 was introduced by Representative Jill Tokuda on
March 22, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, in addition to the Committee on Agriculture.
On June 21, the Committee on Natural Resources considered and
favorably reported the bill, as amended, by unanimous consent.
The Committee on Agriculture discharged the legislation from
further consideration the same day. On September 24, 2024, the
House considered the bill under suspension of the rules and
agreed to the bill, as amended, by voice vote.
This bill establishes requirements to research and control
Rapid Ohia Death, which is the disease caused by the fungal
pathogen known as Ceratocystis fimbriata that affects the tree
of the species Metrosideros polymorpha. Specifically, the
Department of the Interior must partner with the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and Hawaii to control and address Rapid Ohia
Death. In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Forest
Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry must continue to
research Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service must continue to partner with USDA,
Hawaii, and local stakeholders to manage ungulates (e.g.,
certain mammals such as deer) in Rapid Ohia Death control areas
on federal, state, and private land, with the consent of
private landowners. Finally, the Forest Service must provide
(1) financial assistance to prevent the spread of the fungus
and to restore the native forests of Hawaii, and (2) staff and
necessary infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific
Islands Forestry to research the fungus.
H.R. 2811, Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023
H.R. 2811 was introduced by Representative Jodey C.
Arrington on April 25, 2023. The bill was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on the Budget, the
Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Oversight and
Accountability, the Committee on Education and the Workforce,
the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on
Rules, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and
the Committee on Natural Resources. On April 26, 2023, the
House passed the bill by a vote of 217 yeas and 215 nays.
The following provisions were contained in title II of
division C of H.R. 2811.
Sec. 311. This section expands applicability of the work
requirements for SNAP recipients who are able-bodied adults
without dependents (ABAWDs). (SNAP recipients who are ABAWDs
have work-related requirements in addition to the general SNAP
work registration and employment and training requirements.)
Specifically, this section applies the work requirements
for ABAWDs to adults who are not over 56 years old, whereas
these requirements currently apply to adults who are not over
50 years old.
Sec. 312. This section prohibits a state agency from
accumulating unused exemptions to the ABAWD work requirement
and providing them to eligible SNAP participants beyond the
subsequent fiscal year.
Currently, for each fiscal year, a state agency may exempt
a certain number of SNAP recipients from the ABAWD work
requirements; unused exemptions may be carried over and used in
a subsequent fiscal year. Under this section, an unused
exemption may not be carried over for more than one year.
The following provision was contained in subtitle A of
title II of division D of H.R. 2811.
Sec. 20112. The Department of Interior and the National
Forest Service must annually report on their staffing capacity
and plans to ensure adequate resources to process and issue
oil, gas, hardrock mining, coal, and renewable energy leases,
rights-of-way, claims, easements, and permits.
The following provisions were contained in subtitle B of
title II of division D of H.R. 2811.
Sec. 20201. This section defines the terms used in this
subtitle. It defines public land to mean any land and interest
in land owned by the United States and administered by Interior
or the Forest Service without regard to how the United States
acquired ownership, except (1) lands located on the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS); and (2) lands held in trust by the
United States for the benefit of Indians, Indian tribes,
Aleuts, and Eskimos.
Sec. 20209. In FY2023-FY2025, the Forest Service and
Interior may accept and expend funds contributed by non-federal
entities to pay for dedicated staff and technology development
to expedite activities for leasing, development, or expansion
of an energy facility.
Sec. 20223. This section exempts certain wildfire
mitigation activities from requirements under NEPA and the
Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Sec. 20224. Among other requirements, this section
establishes deadlines for Interior and the Forest Service to
review a vegetation management, facility inspection, and
operation and maintenance plan submitted by an electric
transmission or distribution facility located on public lands.
Sec. 20226. This section requires the Park Service, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Forest Service to
conduct an outreach plan for disseminating and advertising open
civil service positions with functions relating to permitting
or natural resources in their offices.
The following provision was contained in subtitle C of
title II of division D of H.R. 2811.
Sec. 20302. This section expands the federal permitting and
review processes under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act for critical minerals. Under such act, the BLM and the
Forest Service, to the maximum extent practicable, must
complete the federal permitting and review processes related to
critical mineral mines on federal lands with maximum efficiency
and effectiveness. This section expands this process to include
all minerals as defined by this subtitle, not only critical
minerals. It also requires the BLM and the Forest Service to
defer to data and reviews from state agencies when completing
such review process.
The following provisions were contained in subtitle D of
title II of division D of H.R. 2811.
Sec. 20401. This section prohibits federal land and waters
from being withdrawn from areas where mining activity is
allowed unless four types of assessments are conducted. First,
a mineral assessment of the impacted area must be completed. It
must be completed within the 10-year period before the date of
such withdrawal.
Second, Interior must assess the economic, energy,
strategic, and national security value of mineral deposits
identified in such mineral resource assessment.
Third, Interior must assess the reduction in future
revenues resulting from the proposed mineral withdrawal. The
reduction of revenues must be calculated for revenues to the
Treasury, states, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the
Historic Preservation Fund, and the National Parks and Public
Land Legacy Restoration Fund.
Fourth, Interior must assess military readiness and
training activities in the proposed withdrawal area.
Before Interior or the Forest Service may update or
complete a resource management plan or forest management plan
respectively, they must review any mineral resource assessment
conducted for the area affected by the plan. If Interior finds
that a previously undiscovered mineral deposit may be present
in an area that has been withdrawn from mining activity, then
Interior must make recommendations to the President on measures
to reduce unnecessary impacts that a withdrawal may have on
mining activities.
Sec. 20402. The President and executive agencies may not
carry out any action that would pause, restrict, or delay
leasing or permitting activities on federal lands that are open
to energy and mineral development as defined by the section.
The President, BLM, or Forest Service may not rescind any
existing lease, permit, or claim for the extraction and
production of minerals on National Forest System land or BLM
land unless (1) specifically authorized by federal statute; or
(2) the lessee, permittee, or claimant fails to comply with the
provisions of the applicable lease, permit, or claim.
Sec. 20403. This section defines terms used in this
subtitle. It defines federal land to mean (1) National Forest
System land, (2) public lands as defined in section 103 of the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, (3) the outer
Continental Shelf as defined in section 2 of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act, and (4) land managed by the
Department of Energy.
H.R. 3293, Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews
Act
H.R. 3293 was introduced by Representative Jeff Duncan on
May 15, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce, in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources
and the Committee on Agriculture. On May 24, 2023, the
Committee on Energy and Commerce considered and ordered the
bill to be reported favorably with 51 yeas and 0 nays. On
December 16, 2024, the bill was considered under suspension of
the rules, and agreed to by voice vote.
This bill establishes an interagency strike force to
support federal land management agencies' review of requests
for communications use authorizations. (A communications use
authorization is required to modify or locate communications
facilities on public lands).
The strike force must (1) conduct periodic calls with
strike force members to ensure that each agency prioritizes the
review of requests for communications use authorizations, (2)
establish goals for the review of the requests, and (3) monitor
and facilitate agency accountability for meeting the
established goals.
The bill specifies that the strike force must include the
head of the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, the head of each federal land management
agency, and other members designated by the Department of
Agriculture and the Department of the Interior. The bill also
requires the strike force to report to Congress regarding its
effectiveness.
H.R. 3389, Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act of
2023
H.R. 3389 was introduced by Representative David Valadao on
May 16, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources, in addition to the Committee on Agriculture. On
September 12, 2023, the bill was considered under suspension of
the rules, and was agreed to by voice vote.
This bill requires the Forest Service and the Department of
the Interior to jointly evaluate the container aerial
firefighting system to assess its use to mitigate and suppress
wildfires. Based on the evaluation, the Forest Service,
Interior, the National Interagency Aviation Committee, and the
Interagency Airtanker Board must each update their deployment
protocols.
The system allows for the use of airdrop-capable disposable
containers of water or fire retardant, which increases the
number of airlift assets available for wildfire emergencies.
H.R. 3396, Fire Department Repayment Act of 2023
H.R. 3396 was introduced by Representative Josh Harder on
May 17, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources, in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, the
Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology. On December 6, 2023, the Committee on
Natural Resources considered and ordered the bill to be
reported, as amended, by Unanimous Consent. On December 17,
2024, the bill was considered under suspension of the rules,
and was agreed to by voice vote.
This bill requires standard operating procedures for
reciprocal fire suppression cost share agreements.
The Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, Homeland
Security, and Defense must establish standard operating
procedures relating to payment timelines for fire suppression
cost share agreements established under the Reciprocal Fire
Protection Act. The departments must also review each agreement
that is in operation within a year of this bill's enactment and
modify an agreement as necessary to comply with the standard
operating procedures.
The standard operating procedures must require that (1)
each fire suppression cost share agreement be aligned with each
of the cooperative fire protection agreements applicable to the
entity subject to such fire suppression cost share agreement,
and (2) the federal paying entity reimburse a local fire
department if the fire department submits an invoice in
accordance with cost settlement procedures.
H.R. 4213, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Improvement Act of 2023
H.R. 4213 was introduced by Representative Ken Buck on June
20, 2023, with Representative Yadira Caraveo assuming first
sponsorship of H.R. 4213 on June 14, 2024. The bill was
referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
This bill revises the Conservation Reserve Enhancement
Program (CREP), which is a component of the Farm Service
Agency's (FSA's) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CREP is a
public-private partnership program which allows states, tribal
governments, and nonprofit and private entities to partner with
FSA to implement CRP practices. CRP is a land conservation
program that provides an annual rental payment to farmers in
exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from
agricultural production and planting species that will improve
environmental health and quality.
The bill specifies that dryland agricultural uses and
grazing are included as appropriate practices under CREP.
The bill also allows a land owner or operator to elect to
determine the annual payment amount allocated for each year of
a CREP agreement, instead of a fixed payment per year for the
contract period.
For drought and water conservation agreements that include
the permanent retirement of water rights, annual payment rates
must be equal to the irrigated acre payment rates determined by
the Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the case of an
agreement that permits dryland agricultural uses, the annual
payment rates must be equal to the difference between the
irrigated acre payment rates and the dryland acre payment rates
determined by USDA. The payment formula is retroactive for
certain existing drought and water conservation agreements.
Further, the bill exempts CREP payments from the $50,000
annual payment limitation under CRP.
H.R. 4763, Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st
Century Act
H.R. 4763 was introduced by Chairman Glenn Thompson on July
20, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on Financial
Services, in addition to the Committee on Agriculture. On May
22, 2024, the House passed the bill by a vote of 279 yeas and
136 nays.
This bill establishes a regulatory framework for digital
assets. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) must
regulate a digital asset as a commodity if the blockchain, or
digital ledger, on which it runs is functional and
decentralized. The bill classifies a blockchain as
decentralized if, among other requirements, no person has
unilateral authority to control the blockchain or its usage,
and no issuer or affiliated person has control of 20% or more
of the digital asset or the voting power of the digital asset.
In addition, the bill provides the CFTC with exclusive
regulatory authority over cash or spot markets for digital
commodities.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must regulate
a digital asset as a security if its associated blockchain is
functional but not decentralized. However, the bill establishes
certain exceptions to SEC regulation for digital assets that
limit annual sales, restrict nonaccredited investor access, and
satisfy disclosure and compliance requirements. The bill also
sets forth requirements for primary and secondary market
transactions.
The CFTC and SEC must jointly issue rules to define terms
and exempt dually registered exchanges from duplicative rules.
H.R. 5283, Protecting our Communities From Failure to
Secure the Border Act of 2023
H.R. 5283 was introduced by Representative Nicole
Maliotakis on August 25, 2023. The bill was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture. On November 30, 2023, the House passed the bill,
as amended, by a vote of 224 yeas, 203 nays, and 1 present.
This bill prohibits the federal government from using
certain federally administered lands to provide housing to any
non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have not been
admitted into the United States.
H.R. 6011, Right-Of-Way Application Transparency and
Accountability Act
H.R. 6011 was introduced by Representative David G. Valadao
on October 20, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, in addition to the Committee on Agriculture.
On April 11, 2024, the bill, as amended, was considered under
suspension of the rules and passed by voice vote.
This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the
Department of Agriculture to notify applicants for a right-of-
way on certain public lands if their application is complete or
lacking information.
H.R. 6127, Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act
(MAPWaters Act)
H.R. 6127 was introduced by Representative Blake Moore on
November 1, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, in addition to the Committee on Agriculture.
On November 20, 2024, the Committee on Natural Resources
considered and ordered the bill to be reported in the nature of
a substitute by Unanimous Consent. The Committee on Agriculture
discharged the bill on December 10, 2024. On December 17, 2024,
the bill was considered under suspension of the rules and
agreed to by voice vote.
The bill directs the Forest Service and the Department of
the Interior to standardize and publish data relating to public
outdoor recreational use of federal waterways.
Specifically, the Forest Service and Interior must jointly
develop and adopt interagency standards for data collection and
dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor
recreational use of federal waterways and federal fishing
restrictions. The standards must ensure compatibility and
interoperability among applicable federal databases with
respect to collection and dissemination of such data.
The Forest Service and Interior must also (1) digitize and
make publicly available online certain geographic information
system data about federal waterway restrictions and federal
fishing restrictions, (2) update the information at least twice
per year, and (3) develop a process to allow members of the
public to submit questions or comments regarding the data.
H.R. 8790, Fix Our Forests Act
H.R. 8790 was introduced by Representative Bruce Westerman
on June 18, 2024. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, in addition to the Committee on Agriculture
and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. On June
26, 2024, the Committee on Natural Resources ordered the bill
to be reported in the Nature of a Substitute by voice vote. On
September 12, 2024, the Committee on Agriculture and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology both discharged the
legislation from further consideration. On September 24, 2024,
the House passed the bill by a vote of 268 yeas and 151 nays.
H.R. 9516, Military Families National Parks Access
Enhancement Act
H.R. 9516 was introduced by Representative Lori Chavez-
DeRemer on September 10, 2024. The bill was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture. On November 20, 2024, the Committee on Natural
Resources considered and ordered the bill to be reported in the
nature of a substitute by Unanimous Consent. The Committee on
Agriculture discharged the bill on December 10, 2024. On
December 17, 2024, the bill was considered under suspension of
the rules and agreed to by voice vote.
This bill extends eligibility for a free lifetime National
Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass to individuals who
are next-of-kin to a member of the Armed Forces whose death
entitles the survivor to a death gratuity (e.g. the
servicemember died while on active duty or during inactive duty
training).
3. House Resolutions Considered in the House
None.
4. Bills Reported by the Committee on Agriculture But Not Considered
H.R. 1480, Beagle Brigade Act of 2023
H.R. 1480 was introduced by Representative Sanford D.
Bishop, Jr. on March 9, 2023. The bill was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture on March 9, 2023. On May 11, 2023, the
Committee on Agriculture considered and favorably reported the
bill, as amended, by voice vote. The President signed a Senate
version of this bill into law on December 23, 2024.
This bill provides statutory authority for the National
Detector Dog Training Center that is operated by the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the Department of
Agriculture. The center trains dogs to inspect passenger
baggage, cargo, mailed packages, and vehicles to detect foreign
pests and diseases that threaten domestic agriculture and
natural resources. The bill also requires APHIS to report to
Congress on (1) current and emerging threats to domestic
agricultural and natural resources from foreign pests and
diseases, and (2) recommendations to improve the center's
capabilities and procedures.
H.R. 1697, Promoting Precision Agriculture Act of 2023
H.R. 1697 was introduced by Representative Donald G. Davis
on March 22, 2023. The bill was referred to the Committee on
Agriculture on March 22, 2023. On May 11, 2023, the Committee
on Agriculture considered and favorably reported the bill by
voice vote. Ultimately, the bill was not considered by the full
House.
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to
develop voluntary standards for precision agriculture (i.e.,
managing, tracking, or reducing crop or livestock production
inputs, including seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, water, and
time at a heightened level of spatial and temporal granularity
to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain
environmental quality).
USDA, in consultation with the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), must develop voluntary, consensus-based,
private sector-led interconnectivity standards and best
practices for precision agriculture to promote economies of
scale and ease the burden of adoption. USDA must (1) coordinate
with relevant public and trusted private sector stakeholders
and relevant industry organizations, and (2) consult with
sector-specific agencies and state and local governments.
Further, in developing the standards, USDA must, in
consultation with NIST and the FCC, consider:
the connectivity needs of precision
agriculture equipment,
cybersecurity challenges facing precision
agriculture, and
the impact of artificial intelligence on
this area.
The Government Accountability Office must periodically
assess and report on the standards.
H.R. 8467, Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024
H.R. 8467 was introduced in the House by Chairman Glenn
Thompson on May 21, 2024 and was referred to the House
Committee on Agriculture. The Committee held a mark-up on May
24, 2024 and ordered the bill reported as amended by a recorded
vote of 33 yeas to 21 nays.
TITLE I--COMMODITIES
Title I aids farmers in managing risk and provides
assistance following precipitous declines in commodity prices.
Through the reauthorization and enhancement of commodity,
marketing loan, sugar, dairy, and disaster programs, producers
are provided some certainty in times of unpredictability. The
commodities title:
Increases support for the Price Loss
Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC)
programs to account for persistent inflation and rising
costs of production.
Provides authority to expand base acres to
include producers who currently cannot participate in
ARC/PLC.
Modernizes marketing loans and sugar policy.
Bolsters dairy programs to continue
providing vital assistance.
Enhances standing disaster programs and
expands eligibility for assistance.
TITLE II--CONSERVATION
Title II provides farmers, ranchers, and growers with
financial and technical assistance to address a variety of
natural resource concerns such as soil health and erosion,
water quality and quantity, and wildlife habitat. The 2024 Farm
Bill continues to support our proven system of voluntary,
incentive-based, and locally led conservation through various
improvements. The conservation title:
Title II provides historic, long-term investments in Title
II by reallocating Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) conservation
dollars. The conservation title:
Provides historic investment in Title II by
reallocating IRA conservation dollars and expands
covered conservation practices.
Protects and enhances working lands
conservation programs like the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation
Stewardship Program (CSP) while promoting precision
agriculture.
Includes common-sense easement reforms and
protects working forest lands through the newly
authorized Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP).
Streamlines and improves program
administration for the Regional Conservation
Partnership Program (RCPP), the Technical Service
Provider Program (TSP), and P.L. 566.
Modernizes the Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP) by incentivizing enrollment of marginal lands and
emphasizing state partnerships.
Reauthorizes and funds successful programs
such as the Feral Swine Eradication Program and the
Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
(VPA-HIP).
Emphasizes science, technology, and
innovation, including within the conservation practice
standards establishment and review processes.
TITLE III--TRADE
Title III expands the reach and impact of the Market Access
Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, as
well as mitigates global food insecurity while providing U.S.
producers new markets, improving local economies. The trade
title:
Substantially increases funding for MAP/FMD.
Prioritizes U.S. commodities rather than
unlimited market-based assistance.
Balances the authorities of USAID with those
of USDA.
Lessens the bureaucracy associated with
programs meant to respond to immediate crises.
Addresses trade barriers and infrastructure
deficiencies.
Fosters education partnerships to ensure
developing countries can benefit from our nation's
advanced research and developing technologies.
TITLE IV--NUTRITION
Title IV supports access to families formerly disallowed to
receive benefits, refocuses work programs to support upward
mobility, invests in and modernizes food distribution programs
to create parity with urban programming, promotes program
integrity and state accountability, and advances policies
related to healthy eating, healthy behaviors, and healthy
outcomes. The nutrition title:
Provides additional financial resources
across multiple programs that have successfully
benefited tribal communities, seniors, and households
pursuing healthier options.
Offers significant opportunities for
individuals to remain on their current career pathways
without choosing between SNAP and employment.
Creates new access for participants either
formerly disallowed or beholden to arcane restriction.
Corrects egregious Executive branch
overreach and disallows future unelected bureaucrats
from arbitrarily increasing or decimating SNAP
benefits.
Creates a stronger, more sustainable
connection between health and federal feeding programs.
Holds USDA and states accountable to the
generosity of the American taxpayer.
TITLE V--CREDIT
Title V aids agricultural producers both start and maintain
their operations by:
Enhancing financing options for producers
who are unable to obtain credit from a commercial
lender.
Providing resources to new, young,
beginning, and veteran farmers in their transition to
farming and ranching.
Protecting and enhancing the ability of
commercial lenders to provide rural America with a
reliable source of credit and capital.
TITLE VI--RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Title VI continues the long history of bipartisan support
for rural development initiatives and implements important
improvements to ensure a robust rural economy. The rural
development title:
Strengthens broadband connectivity to rural
communities.
Improves precision agriculture practices and
increasing accessibility of precision agriculture
services.
Protects access to health care in rural
America.
Enhances efforts to meet the childcare
demands of rural areas.
Addresses existing workforce challenges
within rural communities to effectively meet their
needs.
Encourages private capital investments in
rural communities.
Streamlines the permitting process for Rural
Development projects.
TITLE VII--RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND RELATED MATTERS
Title VII keeps American agriculture at the forefront of
innovation and productivity through cutting-edge research and
supports the nation's land-grant and non-land-grant colleges of
agriculture. The research title:
Supports the modernization of agricultural
research facilities by providing funding for the
Research Facilities Act.
Increases funding for the Specialty Crop
Research Initiative.
Allocates funding for research and
development of mechanization and automation
technologies for the specialty crop industry.
Maintains funding for the Emergency Citrus
Disease Research and Extension Program.
Provides continued funding for scholarships
for students at 1890 institutions.
Promotes interagency coordination to further
agricultural research at other federal agencies.
TITLE VIII--FORESTRY
Title VIII promotes active forest management through
incentivizing public-private partnerships creating new market
opportunities and revitalizing rural communities while reducing
wildfire risk and improving forest health to ensure healthy and
productive federal, state, tribal and private forests. The
forestry title:
Incentivizes active forest management
through public-private partnerships by expanding
existing authorities like the Good Neighbor Authority
and the Stewardship End Result Contracting.
Creates new and enhances existing market
opportunities for forest products, including existing
and new data sources and tools, investing in innovative
wood products, and expanding the use of biochar.
Revitalizes rural communities and forest
health through cross-boundary authorities.
Simplifies environmental process
requirements, while ensuring environmental protection
by building upon the success of categorical exclusions
and other streamlined authorities.
TITLE IX--ENERGY
Title IX increases access to energy system and efficiency
updates for farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses while
encouraging growth and innovation for biofuels, bioproducts,
and related feedstocks. The energy title:
Allows for critical cost and energy savings
by increasing access to the Rural Energy for America
Program (REAP).
Streamlines program delivery and enhances
program integrity for biobased market programs and
biofuels and bioproducts development programs like the
BioPreferred Program and the Biorefinery, Renewable
Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance
Program.
Protects investments in higher blends
infrastructure.
Requires the Administration to study the
impacts of solar installations on prime, unique, or
statewide or locally important farmland.
TITLE X--HORTICULTURE, MARKETING, AND REGULATORY REFORM
Title X makes critical investments to enhance the
competitiveness of specialty crops and protect plant health.
The horticulture title:
Delivers commonsense regulatory reforms
necessary to relieve American farmers and ranchers from
overregulation.
Provides additional funding for the
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and directs program
administrators to consult with specialty crop producers
when setting priorities for the program.
Increases funding for plant pest and disease
management to further safeguard American agriculture
and natural resources.
Maintains funding for the Local Agriculture
Market Program and improves program delivery through
simplified applications.
Continues support for organic production
through the National Organic Program, Organic
Production and Market Data Initiative, and National
Organic Certification Cost-Share Program.
TITLE XI--CROP INSURANCE
Title XI: