Bill Summary
The "Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act" is a bill aimed at amending the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to reauthorize funding for rural cooperative development grants. The legislation defines "cooperative development" as activities that support the creation, expansion, and sustainability of cooperatives through outreach, education, training, and technical assistance.
Key changes include:
1. Redefining cooperative development activities.
2. Enhancing scoring criteria for grant applicants by prioritizing those that meet specific requirements.
3. Mandating the Secretary of Agriculture to analyze research data related to cooperative development and include this analysis in annual reports.
4. Establishing a requirement for the interagency working group to report to Congress on their activities annually.
5. Extending the authorization period for these grants from 2024-2023 to 2025-2029.
Overall, the bill seeks to strengthen rural communities by promoting the growth and effectiveness of cooperatives through improved funding and accountability measures.
Possible Impacts
The "Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act," as outlined in the provided legislation, could affect people in several ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Support for New and Existing Cooperatives**: The reauthorization of rural cooperative development grants will provide funding aimed at supporting the startup and sustainability of cooperatives. This could positively impact farmers and rural entrepreneurs by facilitating access to resources like training, technical assistance, and educational programs. As a result, they may experience improved business operations and enhanced profitability, leading to increased local economic stability.
2. **Increased Access to Technical Assistance**: The legislation emphasizes cooperative development activities, including outreach and technical assistance. This could benefit rural communities by equipping individuals and organizations with the necessary tools and knowledge to create and manage cooperatives effectively. People in these communities may find it easier to organize collective efforts, which can lead to better bargaining power for purchasing supplies or selling products, ultimately benefiting their livelihoods.
3. **Data-Driven Decision Making**: The requirement for the Secretary to analyze data from cooperative development activities and include it in annual reports can lead to informed policy decisions. This transparency could result in tailored support for cooperatives based on evidence of what works best in rural areas. As a consequence, individuals involved in cooperatives may experience more effective programs and resources, improving their chances for success and growth in their cooperative ventures.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3075 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3075
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to reauthorize
rural cooperative development grants.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 30, 2025
Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mrs. Fischer) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to reauthorize
rural cooperative development grants.
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 ``Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and
Communities Act''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.
Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
(B) by inserting before subparagraph (B) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(A) Cooperative development.--The term
`cooperative development' means activities, including
outreach, education, training, and technical
assistance, to support the startup, expansion, or
ongoing sustainability of new and existing
cooperatives.'';
(2) in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), in the second sentence, by inserting ``, and award maximum
points in scoring criteria to applicants that satisfy the
requirements of paragraph (5)(F),'' before ``if the plan'';
(3) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking ``If the Secretary
determines it to be in the best interest of the program, the''
and inserting ``The'';
(4) in paragraph (10)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Analysis.--The Secretary shall--
``(i) analyze the data resulting from the
research conducted under subparagraph (A); and
``(ii) include the data and the analysis
described in clause (i) in the annual report
submitted by the interagency working group
under paragraph (12).'';
(5) in paragraph (12)--
(A) by striking ``Not later'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--Not later''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Annual reports.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, and
annually thereafter, the interagency working group
described in subparagraph (A) shall submit to Congress
a report describing the activities carried out by the
interagency working group.''; and
(6) in paragraph (13), by striking ``2014 through 2023''
and inserting ``2025 through 2029''.
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