Satellite-Based Agricultural Data Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4414
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-15: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-05T08:06:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Satellite-Based Agricultural Data Act (H.R. 4414) aims to expand funding priorities under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides competitive grants for agricultural research. Specifically, it promotes the use of commercial weather services—such as satellite-based data and tools—to improve risk management in farming, helping address weather-related challenges like droughts or storms.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Existing Law: The bill modifies a specific section of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)(E)(iii)) by adding language that explicitly includes "data and tools available from commercial weather services" as part of funding priorities for developing mitigation measures (strategies to reduce risks from events like extreme weather).
- Scope: This change applies to AFRI grants focused on enhancing agricultural resilience, without altering the overall structure or budget of the program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The primary change is a minor textual addition to an existing subsection, broadening the definition of allowable research activities under AFRI. Previously, the law emphasized general mitigation measures but did not specifically highlight commercial weather services. This insertion encourages integration of private-sector weather data into federally funded projects, potentially shifting some research toward innovative, market-driven tools.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The USDA's AFRI program may see more grant applications incorporating commercial data, leading to more efficient use of funds for practical agricultural solutions. This could streamline research without requiring new appropriations.
- On Citizens: Farmers and rural communities could benefit from improved access to advanced weather forecasting, aiding better crop planning and reducing losses from weather events, which might lower food prices and enhance food security.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though enhanced U.S. agricultural resilience could indirectly support global food supply chains by making American farming more reliable.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- USDA and Researchers: Directly influences grant funding decisions, encouraging academics and scientists to collaborate with private weather providers.
- Farmers and Agricultural Producers: Gain potential access to better tools for weather risk management, improving operations and profitability.
- Commercial Weather Service Providers: Businesses offering satellite data or forecasting tools (e.g., companies like those providing GPS or climate analytics) may see increased demand and partnerships through federal grants.
- Taxpayers: Indirectly affected through how public research funds are allocated toward private-sector innovations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The amendment is straightforward and aligns with existing USDA authority under the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act, posing no conflicts with broader federal statutes. It promotes public-private partnerships without mandating them.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; it operates within Congress's spending power for agricultural support, as outlined in the Constitution's commerce clause.
- Political: This bipartisan bill (introduced by representatives from both parties) signals support for integrating technology into agriculture, potentially appealing to rural constituencies and tech innovators. It could set a precedent for future expansions of commercial involvement in federal research programs, though it avoids controversial mandates on data privacy or funding levels.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-15: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-07-15: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Satellite-Based Agricultural Data Act — issued 2025-07-15 — PDF (2 pages)