To establish the Commission on National Agricultural Statistics Service Modernization to modernize the data collection and reporting processes of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2307
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-05T09:06:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, H.R. 2307, aims to create a temporary commission to evaluate and recommend improvements to the data collection and reporting methods of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agency responsible for agricultural statistics. The goal is to modernize these processes for better efficiency, accuracy, and relevance in supporting farmers, policymakers, and the agricultural sector.
Key Provisions
- Commission Establishment: Forms the Commission on National Agricultural Statistics Service Modernization with 11 members, including:
- Four USDA officials: NASS Administrator, Economic Research Service Administrator, Chief Economist, and Chair of the World Agricultural Outlook Board.
- One representative from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Six appointees from congressional agriculture committees (three from the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; three from the House Committee on Agriculture), balanced between majority and minority party leaders.
- Study and Recommendations: The commission must conduct a study on modernizing NASS data collection, focusing on:
- Enhancing data quality and accounting for variations in national, regional, and local production.
- Adopting new technologies to reduce the number of surveys.
- Boosting producer participation in surveys and reducing "survey fatigue" (repeated requests for information).
- Increasing transparency through collaboration with agricultural stakeholders.
- Incorporating real-time statistical and environmental data to supplement traditional surveys.
- Improving data on specialty crops (e.g., fruits, vegetables, nuts).
- Outlining implementation steps and estimated costs.
- Operations and Reporting:
- Appointments must occur within 60 days of enactment; initial meeting within 60 days after.
- Majority quorum required for business; commission selects its own chairperson.
- Must hold hearings, engage stakeholders for feedback, and request information from federal agencies.
- Submit a report within 2 years to the President and relevant congressional committees, including an inventory of NASS surveys and their frequencies, plus recommendations for administrative, regulatory, or legislative changes.
- Support and Logistics:
- USDA Secretary provides office space and administrative support.
- Non-federal members compensated at Executive Schedule Level IV rate (about $183,500 annually equivalent daily rate); federal members serve without extra pay; travel expenses covered.
- Exempt from certain Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) requirements (sections on public notice and termination).
- Commission terminates on September 30, 2030.
- Authorizes $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, available until spent.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new, standalone commission without directly amending prior laws. It creates an advisory body to study NASS operations, which could indirectly influence future USDA regulations or statutes based on recommendations. The partial FACA exemption streamlines operations but does not alter broader advisory committee rules. No immediate changes to NASS survey mandates or data privacy laws are made.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Could lead to more efficient USDA data processes, reducing survey burdens and costs while improving real-time analytics for policy decisions like farm subsidies or trade forecasts. BLS and other agencies may collaborate more closely on labor and economic data.
- Citizens: Agricultural producers (farmers and ranchers) may face fewer surveys and higher-quality data, aiding better business planning and market access. Consumers could indirectly benefit from more accurate food supply statistics influencing prices and policy.
- International Relations: Enhanced U.S. agricultural data might strengthen trade negotiations or global outlooks (e.g., via the World Agricultural Outlook Board), but the bill has no direct foreign policy components.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary: USDA (especially NASS and related offices), agricultural producers, and specialty crop growers who provide survey data.
- Secondary: Congressional agriculture committees, BLS, agricultural industry groups (e.g., trade associations), and researchers relying on NASS statistics.
- Broader: Policymakers, economists, and rural communities dependent on reliable ag data for funding and programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The commission's advisory role ensures it has no binding authority, aligning with constitutional separation of powers by providing recommendations rather than enacting changes. The FACA exemption (from public notice and formal termination rules) speeds up operations but maintains transparency through required reports and hearings. Data access from agencies is facilitated without overriding privacy laws like those protecting farmer confidentiality in surveys.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; supports Congress's oversight of executive agencies under Article I.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from House members of both parties) suggests broad support for agricultural modernization. The balanced appointments promote nonpartisan input, potentially reducing politicization of data. Expiration in 2030 limits long-term fiscal commitment, but recommendations could spark future debates on USDA funding or tech adoption in government statistics.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- 2025-03-24: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-03-24: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To establish the Commission on National Agricultural Statistics Service Modernization to modernize the data collection and reporting processes of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-03-24 — PDF (8 pages)