Bill Details
View committees (1)
View cosponsors (13)
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-Maine-1]
- Rep. Riley, Josh [D-New York-19]
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-Massachusetts-2]
- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-New Mexico-3]
- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-Hawaii-2]
- Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-Maryland-6]
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-Illinois-13]
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-Louisiana-2]
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-Kansas-3]
- Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-New York-18]
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-California-21]
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-California-18]
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-New York-20]
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would require the Department of Agriculture to start paying out money for existing contracts and written agreements again, including money that is already overdue. It would also stop the department from canceling signed agreements with farmers or groups helping farmers unless they have broken the terms of the contract. In addition, the bill would protect local farm and conservation offices by stopping them from closing without advance notice to Congress.
- The Agriculture Secretary would have to unfreeze funding for contracts and agreements that were already signed before the bill becomes law.
- The department would need to pay any overdue amounts owed under those contracts as soon as possible.
- Signed agreements could not be canceled unless the farmer or partner organization failed to follow the contract terms.
- The bill would block the closure of Farm Service Agency county offices, Natural Resources Conservation Service field offices, and Rural Development Local Service Centers unless Congress gets written notice and a reason at least 60 days before the planned closure.
Official Summaries
Honor Farmer Contracts Act
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to unfreeze funding for agreements and contracts and prohibits USDA from closing certain offices and service centers without notifying Congress in advance.
Specifically, USDA must (1) unfreeze funding for, and implement, all agreements and contracts entered into by USDA prior to the bill's enactment; and (2) pay all related past due amounts owed by USDA as rapidly as possible.
Further, the bill prohibits USDA from canceling a signed agreement or contract with a farmer or an entity providing assistance to farmers (unless the farmer or entity is not in compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract).
Finally, the bill prohibits USDA from closing Farm Service Agency county offices, Natural Resources Conservation Service field offices, or Rural Development Service Centers without providing written notice and a justification to Congress at least 60 days before the closure.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2396 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2396
To unfreeze funding for contracts of the Department of Agriculture, to
prohibit Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service
office closures, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 27, 2025
Mr. Vasquez (for himself, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Riley of New York, and Mr.
McGovern) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To unfreeze funding for contracts of the Department of Agriculture, to
prohibit Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service
office closures, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Honor Farmer Contracts Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FUNDING AND OFFICES.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(1) immediately after the enactment of this Act, unfreeze
funding for and implement all written agreements and contracts
entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture prior to the date
of enactment of this Act;
(2) as rapidly as possible after the enactment of this Act,
pay all past due amounts owed by the Secretary of Agriculture
under agreements and contracts described in paragraph (1);
(3) not cancel any signed agreement or contract with a
farmer or an entity providing assistance to farmers, unless the
farmer or entity has failed to comply with the terms and
conditions of the contract; and
(4) not close any Farm Service Agency county office,
Natural Resources Conservation Service field office, or Rural
Development Local Service Center without providing written
notice and justification to Congress not later than 60 days
before the date on which the applicable office or center is
intended to be closed.
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