Sponsors (14)
The bill directs dedicated federal funding to help unions and membership organizations stabilize services for farmworkers and other food-sector workers after disasters, but concentrates aid at the organizational level (not necessarily to individuals), increases federal spending, and leaves eligibility details to executive discretion.
Unions and membership organizations representing farmworkers, meatpacking, and grocery workers can receive stabilization grants after eligible disasters, giving those organizations direct financial support to maintain worker support services.
The bill provides a $50 million dedicated appropriation for the stabilization program, ensuring funds are available to respond to eligible disasters until spent.
Requires a report within four years evaluating program outcomes, increasing transparency and allowing Congress and taxpayers to assess effectiveness and make adjustments.
The program delivers aid to organizations rather than directly to individual workers, so affected workers may not receive immediate cash assistance unless their organizations pass funds through to them.
The $50 million appropriation increases federal spending and could require trade-offs with other programs or priorities funded by Congress.
Eligibility and award decisions are delegated to the Secretary, which could delay disbursements, limit which organizations qualify, and create uncertainty for some worker groups about access to relief.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a USDA grant program to pay membership organizations or unions representing food-system workers stabilization funds after disasters, authorized at $50M.
Introduced March 16, 2026 by Nikki Budzinski · Last progress March 16, 2026
Creates a USDA grant program to make stabilization payments to membership organizations or labor unions that represent farmworkers, meat processing workers, or grocery workers after a natural disaster or other disaster the Secretary determines. The program is run by the Agricultural Marketing Service and is authorized up to $50 million, available until expended. The Secretary must report to the House and Senate agriculture committees on program outcomes and impacts within four years of enactment. The law sets eligibility and funding authority but leaves implementation details, disaster determinations, and payment design to USDA rulemaking and guidance.