Bill Summary
The proposed legislation, known as the "RTCP Revitalization Act," aims to amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. Its primary focus is to provide mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) specifically for reimbursement payments to geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Mandatory Funding**: The act mandates specific funding amounts for each fiscal year, starting with $10 million in 2026 and increasing by $1 million each subsequent year until reaching $15 million in 2031 and beyond.
2. **Removal of Payment Limitations**: The legislation allows geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to receive payments without limitations in years when sufficient funds are available, ensuring that they are not restricted in the financial support they can receive under this program.
Overall, the RTCP Revitalization Act aims to enhance financial support for farmers and ranchers in areas that may be economically disadvantaged, thereby promoting equity and sustainability within the agricultural sector.
Possible Impacts
The proposed "RTCP Revitalization Act" aims to provide mandatory funding for reimbursement payments to geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Here are three examples of how this legislation could affect people:
1. **Economic Support for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers**: Farmers and ranchers in remote or economically disadvantaged areas may struggle with higher costs and lower sales due to their location. This legislation guarantees funding that would provide them with financial support, helping them to sustain their operations, invest in improvements, and remain competitive in the agricultural market. This could result in a more stable income for these farmers and potentially improve the local economies in those regions.
2. **Increased Agricultural Production and Food Supply**: By providing financial assistance to geographically disadvantaged farmers, the Act may encourage increased agricultural production. These farmers could afford to invest in better technology, seeds, and resources, leading to higher yields and a more robust food supply. This could benefit consumers by potentially lowering food prices and increasing the availability of locally-produced goods.
3. **Promotion of Rural Development and Community Resilience**: The guaranteed funding for these farmers and ranchers can lead to broader community benefits, such as job creation and improved infrastructure. As farmers thrive, they may hire more workers, which boosts local employment. Additionally, a more vibrant agricultural sector can lead to the development of related businesses (e.g., processing, transportation, and retail), enhancing community resilience and reducing reliance on outside sources for food and agricultural products.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1758 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1758
To amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to provide
mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation for
reimbursement payments to geographically disadvantaged farmers and
ranchers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 14, 2025
Ms. Hirono (for herself, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Schatz) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to provide
mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation for
reimbursement payments to geographically disadvantaged farmers and
ranchers, 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 ``RTCP Revitalization Act''.
SEC. 2. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION FUNDING FOR GEOGRAPHICALLY
DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS.
Section 1621 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 8792) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``Subject to the
availability of funds under subsection (d), the Secretary'' and
inserting ``The Secretary'';
(2) in subsection (c)(3), by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B) Payment limitations.--The Secretary may not
impose a limitation on the amount of payments received
by a geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher
under this section for any fiscal year in which the
amount made available for payments under this section
is equal to or greater than the amount that may be
provided in accordance with this section with respect
to applications received by the Secretary for that
fiscal year.''; and
(3) in subsection (d), by striking the subsection
designation and heading and all that follows through ``There
are'' and inserting the following:
``(d) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this
section--
``(A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(B) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(C) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
``(D) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
``(E) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; and
``(F) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2031 and each
fiscal year thereafter.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are''.
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