Bill Summary
The "Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act" amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide an exception to existing payment limitations for individuals or legal entities primarily engaged in agriculture. Specifically, the legislation allows these entities to receive certain payments or benefits without being subject to the typical income limits if at least 75% of their average adjusted gross income comes from agricultural activities, including farming, ranching, silviculture, agri-tourism, and direct sales of agricultural products. The Act aims to ensure that those most reliant on agriculture can access necessary disaster relief programs without financial restrictions that could hinder their recovery and sustainability in the agriculture sector.
Possible Impacts
The "Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act" could affect people in several ways:
1. **Increased Financial Support for Farmers**: By allowing individuals or entities that derive 75% or more of their income from agricultural activities to qualify for exceptions to payment limitations, the legislation could provide much-needed financial support during times of disaster or economic hardship. This could help stabilize the incomes of farmers and ranchers who may face crop failures or other agricultural challenges.
2. **Encouragement of Diverse Agricultural Practices**: The inclusion of activities such as agri-tourism and direct-to-consumer marketing in the definition of eligible income sources may incentivize farmers to diversify their operations. This could lead to increased innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities within the agricultural sector, ultimately benefiting rural economies and creating jobs.
3. **Greater Accessibility to Federal Programs**: By expanding the criteria for who qualifies for certain agricultural payment programs, the legislation could help small and mid-sized farms that might struggle to meet existing payment limitations. This greater accessibility could empower more farmers to participate in federal assistance programs, enhancing their ability to manage risks and sustain their operations during adverse conditions.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2156 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2156
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish an exception to
certain payment limitations in the case of person or legal entity that
derives income from agriculture, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 14, 2025
Mr. Panetta (for himself, Mrs. Cammack, Ms. Lofgren, and Mr. Austin
Scott of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish an exception to
certain payment limitations in the case of person or legal entity that
derives income from agriculture, 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 ``Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster
Programs Act''.
SEC. 2. EXCEPTION FOR INCOME DERIVED FROM AGRICULTURE.
Section 1001D(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308-
3a(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and
inserting ``paragraphs (3) and (4)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Exception.--
``(A) In general.--In the case of an excepted
payment or benefit, the limitation established by
paragraph (1) shall not apply to a person or legal
entity during a crop, fiscal, or program year, as
appropriate, if greater than or equal to 75 percent of
the average adjusted gross income of the person or
legal entity is derived from farming, ranching, or
silviculture activities (including agri-tourism,
direct-to-consumer marketing of agricultural products,
the sale of agricultural equipment owned by such person
or entity, and other agricultural related activities,
as determined by the Secretary).
``(B) Excepted payment or benefit.-- For purposes
of this paragraph, the term `excepted payment or
benefit' means--
``(i) a payment or benefit under subtitle E
of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7
U.S.C. 9081 et seq.); and
``(ii) a payment or benefit under section
196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333).''.
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