Sponsors (19)
Creates a permanent USDA grant program to deliver timely emergency aid and resilience investments for farm workers and rural communities while imposing new federal spending and leaving room for uneven implementation and eligibility gaps.
Farm workers (including migrant and seasonal) will be able to receive rapid emergency cash, shelter, and services after disasters, reducing immediate hardship and helping households stay afloat.
Creates a permanent, annual USDA farm worker emergency aid program starting FY2026, providing an ongoing, institutionalized federal source of support and readiness for future disasters.
Allows community resiliency and infrastructure investments (including shelters), which can reduce future disruptions to workers and local economies and strengthen local disaster response capacity.
Broad definition of "covered disaster" and substantial Secretary discretion could produce uneven or politically influenced triggers and distributions of grants, causing unequal access to aid across communities.
Taxpayers may face increased federal spending to fund a new standing grant program starting in FY2026, adding to federal outlays.
Nonprofit eligibility criteria (e.g., requiring certain tax statuses) may exclude some local groups without 501(c)(3) status, delaying or blocking aid to certain farm worker communities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a standing USDA grant program (beginning FY2026) to fund emergency relief and resiliency projects for farm worker organizations after covered disasters.
Official title: To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 with respect to emergency assistance for farm workers, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 7, 2025 by Andrea Salinas · Last progress May 7, 2025
Creates a permanent USDA grant program, starting in FY2026, to give emergency relief funding to eligible farm worker organizations after defined "covered disasters." Grants may be used for direct emergency aid, shelter and infrastructure support, capacity building, community resiliency, and other emergency services; funds remain available until spent. Defines which events count as covered disasters (weather events, pandemics, and other events that disrupt income or work) and which organizations are eligible (farm worker membership groups or experienced 501(c)(3) nonprofits). The Secretary of Agriculture must promote the program and consult with eligible organizations in administering grants.