AG RESEARCH Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3568
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:56:10Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The AG RESEARCH Act (H.R. 3568) aims to tackle the growing problem of deferred maintenance—unaddressed repairs and upgrades—at agricultural research facilities across the United States. It seeks to modernize these facilities to keep U.S. agricultural research competitive globally, highlighting agriculture's economic importance (contributing over $1 trillion to GDP and 22 million jobs in 2019) and the rising costs of maintenance needs (from $8.4 billion in 2015 to $11.5 billion in 2021).
Key Provisions
- Findings Section: Outlines the economic role of agriculture, annual research funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or USDA), and the urgent need for infrastructure investments based on recent studies.
- Evaluation of Grant Proposals: Amends the Research Facilities Act to require USDA to consult with NIFA peer review panels when reviewing grant applications for agricultural research projects.
- Competitive Grant Program: Establishes a new program under NIFA to fund the construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of agricultural research facilities and essential equipment.
- The federal government can cover up to 100% of costs in specific cases, as decided by the USDA Secretary.
- Grants must promote equitable distribution across geography, diverse institutions (e.g., varying sizes and focus areas in agricultural science), with no more than 20% of funds going to projects in any single state.
- Includes procedures for submitting proposals and peer-reviewed selection.
- Funding Mechanism:
- Mandates annual transfers of $500 million from the U.S. Treasury to USDA starting October 1, 2025, through 2029 (totaling $2.5 billion), available until spent without needing further congressional approval.
- Authorizes up to $1 billion annually for fiscal years 2026–2030 for facility planning, design, and construction (additional $5 billion potential).
- Limits use of funds for federal administrative costs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Research Facilities Act Amendments:
- Adds a mandatory peer review consultation step to proposal evaluations (previously not required).
- Completely rewrites the grants section (Section 4) to expand eligibility for funding beyond repairs to include full construction and equipment upgrades, introduces flexibility for 100% federal funding (overriding prior cost-sharing rules), and emphasizes equity and limits in distribution.
- Overhauls funding (Section 6) by introducing mandatory Treasury transfers (bypassing annual appropriations) and higher authorization levels, while clarifying limits on administrative expenses.
- The bill's title mentions amendments to the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, but the provided text focuses solely on the Research Facilities Act; any changes to the 1998 law may be addressed in related sections not detailed here.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases USDA and NIFA responsibilities for managing a large-scale grant program, including peer reviews and equitable distribution. Mandatory funding could strain Treasury resources but streamline access without annual budget fights.
- On Citizens and Agriculture Sector: Improves research facilities at agricultural schools and institutions, potentially boosting innovation in food production, sustainability, and rural economies. Could create jobs in construction and maintenance while addressing a backlog estimated at over $11 billion.
- On International Relations: Enhances U.S. agricultural competitiveness globally by modernizing research infrastructure, helping maintain leadership in exports and technology amid competition from other countries.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Agricultural Research Facilities and Institutions: Primarily 91+ schools of agriculture (e.g., land-grant universities) that receive NIFA funding; they benefit from grants for upgrades but must compete and meet equity criteria.
- USDA and NIFA: Responsible for program administration, proposal reviews, and fund distribution.
- U.S. Treasury and Congress: Handles mandatory transfers and authorizes additional appropriations, affecting federal budgeting.
- Farmers, Rural Communities, and Agribusiness: Indirect beneficiaries through advanced research leading to better crops, practices, and economic stability.
- Taxpayers: Bear the cost of $7.5 billion+ in committed and authorized funds.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Funding Approach: The use of mandatory, non-appropriated transfers from the Treasury (via subparagraphs in Section 6) is a significant shift, potentially reducing congressional control over spending and raising questions about separation of powers, though it aligns with precedents for mandatory programs like disaster aid.
- Equity Mandates: Requirements for geographic and institutional diversity could promote inclusivity in federal funding but might lead to legal challenges if seen as favoring certain groups over merit-based allocation.
- Political Context: As a bipartisan bill (introduced by Reps. Schrier and Mann), it signals congressional priority on agriculture amid rising maintenance costs and economic pressures; success depends on committee approval and could influence future farm bills by setting a model for infrastructure investments in science. No direct constitutional issues noted, but the bill's focus on competitiveness ties into broader national interests in food security.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Augmenting Research and Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-edge and Helpful Act — issued 2025-05-21 — PDF (7 pages)