Labor & Employment (Agriculture)

in committee · United States · House Apr 3, 2026

HR 7938: Grocery, Farm, and Food Worker Stabilization Grant Program Act of 2026

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create a grant program that provides financial stabilization payments to organizations representing farmworkers, meat processing workers, and grocery workers. The funding is specifically intended to support these workers in the event of natural disasters or other emergencies as determined by the Secretary. The program would be administered through the Agricultural Marketing Service and is authorized for up to $50 million. Additionally, the bill requires a report on the program's outcomes to be submitted to congressional committees within four years of enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes grant program to provide financial stabilization payments to farmworkers, meat processing workers, and grocery workers during emergencies, directly supporting worker welfare and employment stability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Dec 2, 2025

HR 5716: FARM SAFE Act

HR 5716, the FARM SAFE Act, ensures that USDA employees administering key agricultural disaster programs cannot be furloughed or laid off during government shutdowns. It directly affects USDA staff working on programs like crop insurance, livestock aid, and other federal disaster assistance authorized under the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 and the Agricultural Act of 2014. The bill requires these employees to be treated as "excepted" under federal law during funding gaps, guaranteeing program continuity without requiring new appropriations. This provides immediate stability for farmers relying on disaster relief during federal budget disruptions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects USDA employees from furloughs during shutdowns, ensuring job security and stability for workers administering agricultural programs.85% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Apr 18, 2025

HR 2396: Honor Farmer Contracts Act

HR 2396, the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to immediately unfreeze and implement all pre-enactment contracts with farmers and agricultural service entities. The bill mandates rapid payment of all past due amounts owed under these contracts, prohibits canceling signed agreements without a farmer's failure to comply, and requires 60 days' written notice to Congress before closing any local USDA offices like Farm Service Agency or Natural Resources Conservation Service locations. This directly affects farmers and agricultural service providers who have existing contracts with the USDA. The law focuses on ensuring USDA fulfills existing obligations and provides transparency for office closures.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects farmers' contractual rights and ensures timely payment, which supports employment stability and financial security for agricultural workers.75% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 14, 2025

S 1074: Agricultural Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Mental Health Care Act of 2025

S 1074, the *Agricultural Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Mental Health Care Act of 2025*, mandates a study on mental health and substance use disorder care access for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers. The Comptroller General will examine rural availability of specialized providers, barriers like cost or geography, and effective programs (such as telehealth or cultural training) to inform future policy. The study’s findings will be submitted to key congressional committees and federal agencies, including Agriculture and Health and Human Services, to guide potential improvements in care accessibility for agricultural communities. This procedural bill does not create new programs but focuses on gathering data to address existing gaps.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates study on mental health/substance use access for agricultural workers to identify barriers and solutions, advancing care access for a vulnerable group.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates study on mental health and substance use disorder care access for agricultural workers, addressing workplace health and worker well-being75% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse Telehealth Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House Jan 6, 2026

HR 6944: To require the Secretary of Agriculture to make cost-share grants for retrofitting agricultural tractors with rollover protection structures, and for other purposes.

This bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide cost-share grants covering 70% of the costs for agricultural producers and eligible schools to retrofit tractors with approved rollover protection structures (safety frames that prevent injury if a tractor rolls over). It defines eligible schools as those offering agricultural training, including vocational programs, colleges, and secondary schools with ag-focused curricula. Grants cover purchasing, transporting, and installing these safety structures, with increased coverage for costs exceeding $500. Funding of $725,000 annually (2027-2031) is authorized, with $500,000 allocated directly to grants and the rest for administrative support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides cost-share grants to eligible schools for safety equipment in agricultural training programs, enhancing vocational education infrastructure.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires safety retrofits for agricultural tractors, improving workplace safety for farm workers through cost-share grants.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates safety retrofits for agricultural tractors, enhancing vehicle safety standards within transportation regulations.95% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Dec 15, 2025

HR 6706: EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act

The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to change how it buys food for programs like school meals and food banks. The bill directs USDA to prioritize purchasing foods that support beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged producers, and environmentally sustainable practices, while emphasizing worker well-being and climate-friendly food production. USDA would need to report annually on how much it spends on these priority food categories and track greenhouse gas emissions from its food purchases. The bill also creates a pilot program for "best value" procurement that considers more than just cost, and provides grants to help small and minority farmers meet USDA vendor requirements. These changes aim to make USDA's $20 billion+ annual food procurement more equitable and environmentally sustainable.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates USDA to prioritize environmentally sustainable practices and climate-friendly production in food procurement, directly advancing environmental protection goals.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly prioritizes 'worker well-being' in USDA food procurement, directly advancing labor protections through purchasing decisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House May 7, 2025

HR 3254: Disaster Relief for Farm Workers Act

This bill creates annual emergency grants for farm workers affected by covered disasters. It directly helps migrant and seasonal farm workers who lose income or cannot work due to events like hurricanes, wildfires, pandemics, or extreme weather. Grants fund immediate relief (food, shelter), rebuild community capacity, and support long-term resilience against future disasters. Eligible organizations, including farm worker groups or qualified nonprofits, receive funds to distribute aid without time limits.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationDirectly provides disaster relief services to migrant and seasonal farm workers, a key immigrant workforce, advancing immigrant support through emergency aid and resilience programs.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides emergency grants to farm workers losing income due to disasters, directly supporting employment stability and income protection during crises.95% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Dec 19, 2025

HR 1230: AG VETS Act

The AG VETS Act (HR 1230) creates a new federal grant program to help military veterans enter or expand farming and ranching careers. It authorizes $5 million annually (2026-2030) for competitive grants to eligible entities like land-grant colleges, cooperative extensions, nonprofits, and state agriculture departments. These grants must be matched with non-Federal funds and will fund training, curriculum development, workshops, and field experiences focused on farm business management. The program directly affects veterans seeking agricultural careers by providing structured education and support through partner organizations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds curriculum development and training via land-grant colleges for veteran farming careers, directly supporting higher education programs.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates grants for veteran agricultural training and career entry, advancing employment opportunities in farming sector. Targets workforce development but not core labor policies like wages/safety.65% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates $5M annual grants to fund veteran farming/ranching career training, directly supporting veteran employment opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Healthcare Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Apr 18, 2025

HR 2638: Women in Agriculture Act

The Women in Agriculture Act establishes a dedicated "Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison" within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to directly support women farmers and ranchers. The Liaison will provide program information, assist with applications, advocate for women in Department interactions, and submit annual reports tracking funding for women-owned operations. The bill also adds a requirement to prioritize childcare solutions in loan and grant decisions and directs research into ergonomically designed farm equipment for women. These provisions aim to improve access to resources and opportunities for women in agriculture.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates Women Farmers Liaison for direct support, prioritizes childcare in loans, and tracks funding - enhances access to employment resources for women in agriculture.85% confidence

Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House Apr 29, 2025

HR 3076: Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2025

The Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2025 provides targeted support to small and very small poultry and meat processing businesses (defined by a 1996 rule). It creates a free, searchable database of safety validation studies and scale-appropriate model food safety plans for these businesses, and increases federal funding for state inspection programs from 50% to 65%. The bill establishes a grant program offering up to $500,000 per grant to help small processors improve safety, expand capacity, and build resilience. Additionally, it funds training programs to develop workforce skills in meat and poultry processing through partnerships with educational institutions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances workplace safety by increasing federal funding for inspections, creating safety databases, and providing grants for safety improvements in meat/poultry processing - directly advancing workplace safety standards.90% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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