No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7206 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7206
To provide for economic assistance to agricultural producers, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 22, 2026
Ms. Craig (for herself, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Mr. Costa, Ms.
Adams, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Brown, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Tokuda, Ms. Budzinski,
Mr. Sorensen, Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Thanedar, Mr.
Gray, Ms. McDonald Rivet, Mr. Figures, Mr. Vindman, Mr. Riley of New
York, Mr. Mannion, Mrs. McClain Delaney, and Mr. Carbajal) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for economic assistance to agricultural producers, 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 ``Farm and Family Relief Act''.
SEC. 2. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES.
(a) Benefit Cost-Shift Delay.--Section 4(a)(2)(B) of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(a)(2)(B)) is amended--
(1) in clause (i) by striking ``2028'' and inserting
``2032'';
(2) in clause (ii)--
(A) in subclause (I)--
(i) by striking ``2028'' each place it
appears and inserting ``2032''; and
(ii) by striking ``2025 or 2026'' and
inserting ``2029 or 2030''; and
(B) in subclause (II) by striking ``2029'' each
place it appears and inserting ``2033''; and
(3) by striking clause (iii).
(b) Administrative Cost-Shift Delay.--Section 16(a) of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(a)) is amended by striking
``through fiscal year 2026, 50 percent, and for fiscal year 2027'' and
inserting ``through fiscal year 2028, 50 percent, and for fiscal year
2029''.
SEC. 3. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS OF ELIGIBLE COMMODITIES.
(a) In General.--
(1) Economic assistance payments.--With respect to the 2025
crop year, if the Secretary determines that the expected gross
return per acre for an eligible commodity determined under
paragraph (2) is less than the expected cost of production per
acre for that eligible commodity determined under paragraph
(3), the Secretary shall, not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, make a 1-time economic assistance
payment to each producer of that eligible commodity during that
crop year.
(2) Expected gross return per acre.--The expected gross
return per acre for an eligible commodity referred to in
paragraph (1) shall be equal to--
(A) in the case of wheat, corn, grain sorghum,
barley, oats, cotton, rice, and soybeans, the product
obtained by multiplying--
(i) the projected average farm price for
the applicable eligible commodity for the 2025-
2026 marketing year contained in the December
2025 World Agricultural Supply and Demand
Estimates published by the World Agricultural
Outlook Board on December 9, 2025; and
(ii) the national average harvested yield
per acre for the applicable eligible commodity
for the most recent 10 crop years, as
determined by the Secretary; and
(B) in the case of each eligible commodity not
specified in subparagraph (A), a comparable estimate of
gross returns, as determined by the Secretary.
(3) Expected cost of production.--The expected cost of
production per acre for an eligible commodity referred to in
paragraph (1) shall be equal to--
(A) in the case of wheat, corn, grain sorghum,
barley, oats, cotton, rice, and soybeans, the total
costs listed for the 2025 crop year with respect to the
applicable eligible commodity contained in the data
product relating to such commodity and crop year
entitled ``U.S. Commodity Costs and Returns by Region
and by Commodity'' published by the Economic Research
Service; and
(4) Payment amounts.--
(A) In general.--The amount of an economic
assistance payment to a producer for an eligible
commodity under paragraph (1) shall be equal to the
difference between--
(i) the amount equal to 65 percent of the
product obtained by multiplying--
(I) the economic loss for that
eligible commodity determined under
subparagraph (B); and
(II) the eligible acres of that
eligible commodity on the farm
determined under subparagraph (C); and
(ii) the amount of any payment issued by
the Secretary to such producer with respect to
crop year 2025 for such eligible commodity or
such eligible acres on the farm under the
Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the
Department of Agriculture as described in the
press release of the Department of Agriculture
on December 8, 2025 (Release No. 0239.25).
(B) Economic loss.--For purposes of subparagraph
(A)(i), the economic loss for an eligible commodity
shall be equal to the difference between--
(i) the expected cost of production per
acre for that eligible commodity, as determined
under paragraph (3); and
(ii) the expected gross return per acre for
that eligible commodity, as determined under
paragraph (2).
(C) Eligible acres.--For purposes of subparagraph
(A)(i)(II), the eligible acres of an eligible commodity
on a farm shall be equal to the sum obtained by
adding--
(i) the acreage planted on the farm to that
eligible commodity for harvest, grazing,
haying, silage, or other similar purposes for
the 2025 crop year; and
(ii) an amount equal to 100 percent of the
acreage on the farm that was prevented from
being planted during the 2025 crop year to that
eligible commodity because of drought, flood,
or other natural disaster, or other condition
beyond the control of the producers on the
farm, as determined by the Secretary.
(D) Acreage planted.--For purposes of subparagraph
(C)(i), the Secretary shall consider acreage planted to
include any land devoted to planted acres for accepted
skip-row planting patterns, as determined by the
Secretary.
(E) Data.--If the Secretary determines there is
insufficient data to determine the comparable estimate
of gross returns with respect to an eligible commodity
under paragraph (2)(B) or a comparable total estimated
cost-of-production with respect to an eligible
commodity under paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary shall
use data related to a similarly situated commodity for
purposes of determining the payment amount under this
paragraph.
(b) Payment Limitations.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
sections 1001, 1001A, 1001B, and 1001C of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308, 1308-1, 1308-2, 1308-3) shall apply
with respect to assistance provided under this section.
(2) Exception.--The total amount of payments received,
directly or indirectly, by a person or legal entity (except a
joint venture or general partnership) under this section may
not exceed--
(A) $125,000, if less than 75 percent of the
average gross income of the person or legal entity for
the 2021, 2022, and 2023 tax years is derived from
farming, ranching, or silviculture activities; and
(B) $250,000, if not less than 75 percent of the
average gross income of the person or legal entity for
the 2021, 2022, and 2023 tax years is derived from
farming, ranching, or silviculture activities.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The terms ``extra-long staple cotton'' and ``producer''
have the meanings given those terms in section 1111 of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9011).
(2) The term ``cotton'' means extra-long staple cotton and
upland cotton.
(3)(A) The term ``eligible commodity'' means a loan
commodity (as defined in section 1201(a) of the Agricultural
Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9031(a))).
(B) The term ``eligible commodity'' does not include graded
wool, nongraded wool, mohair, or honey.
(4) The terms ``legal entity'' and ``person'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 1001(a) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(a)).
(5) The term ``rice'' means long grain rice and medium
grain rice.
(6) The payment limitations under paragraph (2) shall be
separate from annual payment limitations under any other
program.
SEC. 4. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR SUGAR BEET PRODUCERS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Block grants.--From the amounts appropriated under
subsection (c), the Secretary shall make block grants to sugar
beet cooperatives to carry out economic assistance payments in
accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Use of funds.--A sugar beet cooperative that receives a
block grant under paragraph (1) may only use the grant funds to
make payments to members of such cooperative that are sugar
beet producers for the economic losses incurred by such
producers during the 2025 crop year for sugar beets.
(b) Payments.--In carrying out the block grants under subsection
(a)(1), the Secretary shall--
(1) establish, in consultation with sugar beet cooperatives, a per-
acre payment rate for purposes of determining the amount and allocation
of such block grants; and
(2) reduce from the amount of a block grant to a sugar beet
cooperative, as determined under paragraph (1), the total amount of
assistance each member of such cooperative that is a sugar beet
producer received for the 2025 crop year under the Farmer Bridge
Assistance Program of the Department of Agriculture as described in the
press release of the Department of Agriculture on December 8, 2025
(Release No. 0239.25).
(c) Appropriation.--There is appropriated to the Secretary to carry
out this section $330,000,000.
SEC. 5. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY CROPS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and implement a
program under which the Secretary will provide a one-time payment to
eligible producers to aid such producers in--
(1) expanding domestic markets for the covered specialty
crops of such producers; or
(2) developing new markets for such crops.
(b) Application.--An eligible producer seeking payment under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
(c) Amount of Payments.--
(1) In general.--Except as specified in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall calculate the amount of the payment under this
section to an eligible producer based on the producer's sales
of covered specialty crops in calendar year 2025.
(2) New producers.--
(A) In general.--In the case of a new producer, the
Secretary shall calculate the amount of the payment
under this section using the new producer's estimate of
their sales of covered specialty crops in calendar year
2026.
(B) Required documentation.--A new producer shall
provide to the Secretary as evidence to support the
estimate referred to in paragraph (1)--
(i) a legally binding contract or agreement
under which the producer has agreed to sell a
covered specialty crop during calendar year
2026; or
(ii) evidence that, at the time of
application, a covered specialty crop has been
planted and is expected to be harvested and
sold in calendar year 2026.
(3) Maximum amount.--The maximum amount of the payment an
eligible producer may receive under this section shall not
exceed $900,000. Such maximum amount may be reduced if the
amount of funds made available to carry out this section for a
fiscal year is insufficient (as determined by the Secretary) to
make all payments for which applications are submitted under
this section.
(4) Reduction of total payment.--The amount of the payment
an eligible producer may receive under this section with
respect to a covered specialty crop shall be reduced by the
amount of any payment issued by the Secretary to such producer
for such covered specialty crop (or acres on the farm planted
to such crop) under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the
Department of Agriculture (as described in the press release of
the Department of Agriculture on December 8, 2025 (Release No.
0239.25)).
(5) Prohibition on duplicate payments.--An eligible
producer may not receive financial assistance under this
section and under section 6 with respect to the same losses.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered specialty crop.--The term ``covered specialty
crop'' means--
(A) a specialty crop;
(B) dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and
vegetable seed;
(C) Christmas trees;
(D) any culinary and medicinal herb or spice;
(E) honey, hops, maple sap, tea, coffee, turfgrass,
and grass seed; and
(F) such other crop as determined appropriate by
the Secretary.
(2) Eligible producer.--The term ``eligible producer''
means a producer of covered specialty crops (including a new
producer) that--
(A)(i) is in the business of producing covered
specialty crops as of the date on which the producer
seeks payment under this section; and
(ii) is entitled to an ownership share and shares
in the risk of producing a covered specialty crop that
will be sold in the calendar year for which payment is
sought;
(B) is--
(i) a citizen of the United States or
lawful alien (as defined in section 1400.3 of
title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations));
(ii) a partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, or other organizational
structure organized under State law;
(iii) an Indian Tribe or Tribal
Organization (as those terms are defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); or
(iv) a foreign person that meets the
requirements specified in section 1400.401 of
title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations); and
(C) has an average adjusted gross income that--
(i) is less than $900,000 for the preceding
three tax years; or
(ii) equals or exceeds $900,000 if the
producers's average adjusted gross farm income
is at least 75 percent of the producer's
average adjusted gross income.
(3) New producer.--The term ``new producer'' means a
producer of covered specialty crops who, at the time of
application for payment under this section--
(A) began producing specialty crops in either of
the preceding two crop years but did not have sales due
to the immaturity of the crop;
(B) began producing specialty crops in the
preceding crop year but did not have a complete year of
sales; or
(C) is beginning to grow specialty crops in the
crop year with respect to which the application is
submitted.
(4) Specialty crop.--The term ``specialty crop'' has the
meaning given such term in section 3 of the Specialty Crops
Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law
108-465).
(e) Funding.--
(1) In general.--There is appropriated to the Secretary
$5,000,000,000 to carry out this section.
(2) Reduction based on other funding.--In providing
payments under this section, the Secretary shall use an amount
equal to the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) reduced
by any amount obligated by the Secretary for payments to
eligible producers of specialty crops under the Farmer Bridge
Assistance Program of the Department of Agriculture (as
described in the press release of the Department of Agriculture
on December 8, 2025 (Release No. 0239.25)).
(3) Rescission.--Effective on the date that is the end of
the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this
Act, there is rescinded from the unobligated balance of the
amount appropriated under paragraph (1) an amount equal to the
amount under paragraph (1) reduced by the amount obligated by
the Secretary for payments to eligible producers of specialty
crops under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the
Department of Agriculture (as described in the press release of
the Department of Agriculture on December 8, 2025 (Release No.
0239.25)) for such period.
SEC. 6. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR QUALIFIED TIMBER LOSSES.
(a) The Secretary shall establish a program under which the
Secretary shall provide to an eligible entity that submits an
application under subsection (b)--
(1) a one-time payment or grant, as determined by the
Secretary, for qualified timber losses;
(2) a one-time loan or loan guarantee, as determined by the
Secretary, for purposes of enabling the eligible entity to--
(A) address or offset increases in the timber-
related business operating costs of the eligible entity
during calendar year 2025 due to market and economic
conditions, as determined by the Secretary; or
(B) establish, reopen, expand, or improve the
timber-related operations of the eligible entity; or
(3) a payment or grant under paragraph (1) and a loan or
loan guarantee under paragraph (2).
(b) To be eligible to receive financial assistance under the
program under subsection (a) an eligible entity shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require.
(c)(1) The amount of a payment or grant the Secretary provides to
an eligible entity under subsection (a)(1) shall not exceed the amount
that is the lesser of the following:
(A) The amount equal to $40,000 reduced by
the amount described in paragraph (3).
(B) The amount equal to--
(i) the amount equal to 65 percent
of the qualified timber losses of the
eligible entity; reduced by
(ii) the amount described in
paragraph (3).
(2) The amount of a loan or loan guarantee the Secretary
provides to an eligible entity under subsection (a)(2) shall
not exceed the amount equal to $5,000,000 reduced by the amount
described in paragraph (3).
(3) The amount described in this paragraph is, with respect
to an eligible entity, the amount of any financial assistance
the eligible entity receives with respect to calendar year 2025
under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the Department of
Agriculture (as described in the press release of the
Department of Agriculture on December 8, 2025 (Release No.
0239.25)) for qualified timber losses.
(4) An eligible entity may not receive financial assistance
under this section and under section 5 with respect to the same
losses.
(d)(1) There is appropriated to the Secretary $500,000,000 to carry
out this section.
(2) Of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1)--
(A) the Secretary shall use $250,000,000 to provide
payments or grants under subsection (a)(1); and
(B) the Secretary shall use $250,000,000 to provide
loans or loan guarantees under subsection (a)(2).
(3) If the Secretary determines the amount of funds under
subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) is insufficient to
provide the financial assistance specified in such
subparagraphs, the Secretary may ratably reduce such
assistance.
(e) In this section:
(1) The term ``eligible entity'' means an entity that--
(A)(i) is in the business of growing, producing,
harvesting, transporting, or processing timber,
including for lumber, pulp, and paper, as of the date
on which the entity submits an application under
subsection (b), and was in business during the prior
calendar year; or
(ii) is entitled to an ownership share, and
shares in the risk, of timber production on
private forest land in the United States
relating to an application under subsection
(b); and
(B)(i) in the case of an entity that is an
individual, is a citizen of the United States or lawful
alien (as defined in section 1400.3 of title 7, Code of
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations));
(ii) is a partnership, corporation,
cooperative, limited liability company, or
other organizational structure organized under
State law;
(iii) is an Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization (as those terms are defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); or
(iv) is a foreign person that meets the
requirements specified in section 1400.401 of
title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations).
(2) The term ``qualified timber losses'' means the timber-
related revenue losses of an eligible entity that occurred
during calendar year 2025 due to market and economic
conditions, as determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 7. OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.
(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Forest Service
an Office of Technology Transfer (referred to this subsection as the
``Office'').
(b) Mission.--The mission of the Office shall be--
(1) to expand the commercial impact of the research
investments of the Forest Service; and
(2) to provide for the commercialization of technologies
that support the mission of the Forest Service.
(c) Chief Commercialization Officer.--
(1) In general.--The Office shall be headed by an officer,
who shall--
(A) be known as the ``Chief Commercialization
Officer''; and
(B) report to the Deputy Chief of the Forest
Service for Research and Development.
(2) Qualifications.--An individual appointed to the
position of Chief Commercialization Officer shall be an
individual who, by reason of professional background and
experience, is specially qualified to advise the Chief of the
Forest Service and the Deputy Chief of the Forest Service for
Research and Development on technology transfer at the Forest
Service.
(3) Duties.--The Chief Commercialization Officer shall--
(A) oversee the expenditure of funds allocated for
technology transfer within the Forest Service;
(B) represent the Forest Service on--
(i) the Federal Laboratory Consortium for
Technology Transfer established by section
11(e) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710(e)); and
(ii) other similar interagency coordinating
entities;
(C) coordinate with--
(i) other technology transfer and
commercialization offices within the Department
of Agriculture; and
(ii) other similar Federal entities, as
appropriate;
(D) oversee efforts to engage with private sector
entities, including venture capital companies, on
issues relating to technology transfer and
commercialization; and
(E) coordinate efforts to patent or otherwise
protect under title 35, United States Code, any
inventions arising from a Forest Service laboratory.
(d) Technology Transfer Working Group.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish within
the Forest Service a Technology Transfer Working Group, which
shall consist of--
(A) the Deputy Chief of the Forest Service for
Research and Development;
(B) the Chief Commercialization Officer appointed
under subsection (c);
(C) representatives from each research station
within the Forest Service; and
(D) representatives from other Forest Service
entities with relevant expertise, as appropriate.
(2) Duties.--The Technology Transfer Working Group
established under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) assist with the coordination of technology
transfer and commercialization opportunities occurring
at Forest Service laboratories;
(B) develop and disseminate guidance to researchers
at Forest Service laboratories on technology transfer
and commercialization requirements under the Stevenson-
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3701 et seq.) and associated agreements to implement
those requirements; and
(C) develop and disseminate to the public and
prospective technology partners information about
opportunities and procedures for technology transfer
with the Forest Service.
(3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter, the
Technology Transfer Working Group established under paragraph
(1) shall submit to Congress a report that describes--
(A) the number of cooperative research and
development agreements entered into by the Forest
Service under section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a)
during the preceding 5 years;
(B) the number of agreements with partnership
intermediaries entered into by the Forest Service under
section 23 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3715) during the
preceding 5 years;
(C) the number of licenses and other use
authorizations issued by the Forest Service for patents
held by the Forest Service during the preceding 5
years; and
(D) recommendations for legislative, programmatic,
or regulatory changes to support the mission of the
Office.
(e) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the
Secretary shall use to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of
the fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY COOPERATION ACT OF
1990.
The International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4501
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 612. DOMESTIC MARKET ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program under
which the Secretary may undertake such activities as the Secretary
determines appropriate--
``(1) to access, develop, maintain, and expand
international markets for United States agricultural timber
products, including lumber, pulp, and paper; and
``(2) to promote cooperation and the exchange of
information between domestic and international agricultural
timber product market participants as a means of promoting the
export and sale of such United States timber products.
``(b) Funding.--Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the
Secretary for use carrying out this section $15,000,000, to remain
available until expended.''.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF CERTAIN EXECUTIVE ORDERS IMPOSING TARIFFS.
Duties imposed by the following Executive orders, and any successor
or substantially similar Executive orders, shall have no force or
effect on and after the date of the enactment of this Act:
(1) Executive Order 14257 (90 Fed. Reg. 15041).
(2) Executive Order 14193 (90 Fed. Reg. 9113).
(3) Executive Order 14194 (90 Fed. Reg. 9117).
(4) Executive Order 14195 (90 Fed. Reg. 9121).
SEC. 10. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Definition of Secretary.--In this Act, the term ``Secretary''
means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(b) Emergency Designation.--Amounts provided under this Act are
designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i)).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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