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Creates a standing emergency grant program for farm workers beginning in fiscal year 2026 that provides direct grants to eligible farm worker organizations when the Secretary declares a covered disaster. Grants, managed by the Under Secretary for Rural Development, may be used for emergency relief, capacity building, resiliency, infrastructure (including shelter), and other emergency services; the Secretary must run a promotional plan and consult eligible organizations, and unobligated funds remain available until spent.
Amend Section 2281 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 5177a) to read as the new Section 2281 titled 'Emergency assistance for farm workers.'
For fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year, when the Secretary determines there is a covered disaster, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Rural Development, shall make grants to eligible farm worker organizations to provide emergency relief to farm workers affected by the covered disaster.
Allow eligible farm worker organizations to use grant funds to provide emergency relief (including direct distribution of funding) to farm workers to address loss and damage due to a covered disaster.
Allow eligible farm worker organizations to use grant funds to build capacity to provide emergency relief.
Allow eligible farm worker organizations to use grant funds to build resiliency in farm worker communities to address future losses and damages due to covered disasters.
Primary recipients will be eligible farm worker organizations that provide direct services to farm workers; they will gain a federal funding pathway for emergency relief, shelter and infrastructure, resiliency projects, and organizational capacity building when a covered disaster is declared. Farm workers and their families should see improved and more reliable access to emergency services, temporary shelter, and recovery assistance in declared disasters. The Department of Agriculture (Under Secretary for Rural Development) will take on program administration, outreach, and consultation duties, which requires staff time and coordination; the program’s effectiveness depends on future appropriations since the text authorizes grants but does not set funding levels. Local and state governments and community partners may benefit indirectly through strengthened local service providers, but the bill does not impose new unfunded mandates on states or localities. Overall, the bill reduces gaps in disaster response for a vulnerable workforce but requires Congress to appropriate funds for grants to be delivered at scale.
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced May 7, 2025 by Andrea Salinas · Last progress May 7, 2025
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Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House