Bill Details
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View cosponsors (20)
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-Illinois]
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-Vermont]
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-California]
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-Maryland]
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-Oregon]
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-New Mexico]
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-New York]
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-Maine]
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-Minnesota]
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-Massachusetts]
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-Illinois]
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-Connecticut]
- Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-Wisconsin]
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-Oregon]
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-Vermont]
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-Rhode Island]
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-California]
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-Massachusetts]
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-New Mexico]
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-New Jersey]
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 keep its existing contracts and agreements with farmers and related service providers in place, pay money that is already owed, and stop canceling signed agreements unless someone has broken the terms. It would also block the department from closing certain local offices that farmers and rural communities rely on unless it gives Congress written notice and a clear reason at least 60 days before the planned closure. In simple terms, the bill is meant to protect farmers from lost funding, sudden contract changes, and reduced access to local USDA services.
- It would immediately unfreeze funding for USDA contracts and agreements that were made before the bill becomes law.
- It would require the Agriculture Secretary to pay past-due amounts under those agreements as soon as possible.
- It would forbid the department from canceling a signed contract or agreement unless the farmer or other party failed to meet the terms.
- It would prevent the closing of Farm Service Agency county offices, Natural Resources Conservation Service field offices, and Rural Development Service Centers without at least 60 days’ written notice to Congress and an explanation.
Official Summaries
Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025
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 agreement or 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]
[S. 1172 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1172
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 27, 2025
Mr. Booker (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Welch, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Van
Hollen, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Heinrich, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. King, Ms. Smith,
Mr. Markey, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Merkley, Mr.
Sanders, and Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the following bill; which was
read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
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 of
2025''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FUNDING AND OFFICES.
The Secretary of Agriculture--
(1) shall, immediately after the enactment of this Act,
unfreeze funding for and implement all agreements and contracts
entered into by the Secretary of Agriculture prior to the date
of enactment of this Act;
(2) shall, as rapidly as possible after the enactment of
this Act, pay all past due amounts owed by the Secretary of
Agriculture under the agreements and contracts described in
paragraph (1);
(3) shall 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 agreement or contract; and
(4) shall not close any Farm Service Agency county office,
Natural Resources Conservation Service field office, or Rural
Development Service Center without providing written notice and
justification to Congress not later than 60 days before the
date on which the applicable office is intended to be closed.
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