To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which the Secretary will award grants to specialty crop producers to acquire certain equipment and provide training with respect to the use of such equipment.

Bill Number

H.R. 5097

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-02: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-04-14T08:05:49Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill aims to support U.S. specialty crop producers—such as those growing fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other non-commodity crops—by funding equipment that automates or mechanizes farming tasks. The goal is to improve efficiency, reduce reliance on manual labor, and enhance the competitiveness of these producers in domestic and global markets.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program Establishment: The Secretary of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Marketing Service, must create a program to award grants to eligible entities for purchasing mechanized or automated equipment and providing related training.
• Eligible Uses of Funds:
• Acquiring tools and systems that boost task efficiency or cut down on human labor (e.g., low-dust harvesting tools, sorting machines, drones for monitoring, robotic harvesters, precision irrigation systems, and other innovations as determined by the Secretary).
• Offering training and professional services to teach workers how to use and operate this equipment effectively.
• Grant Sizing and Matching Requirement: Grants should cover a substantial portion of costs where possible. Recipients must match at least 50% of the grant amount with non-federal funds (e.g., from private sources or state contributions).
• Eligibility: Limited to individuals or entities commercially producing specialty crops in the U.S.
• Definitions: The bill lists specific examples of covered equipment, including sensors for environmental monitoring, traceability tools for tracking produce, and systems for seeding, weeding, packing, or climate control.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a new Section 210B to Subtitle A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (a law that promotes efficient production and marketing of agricultural products).
• This introduces a dedicated grant mechanism focused on automation and mechanization, which was not previously specified in the Act. Prior programs under the Act supported marketing and research but lacked this targeted emphasis on labor-saving technology for specialty crops.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will need to allocate administrative resources to run the program, including evaluating applications and determining eligible equipment. Funding would require congressional appropriations, potentially straining budgets if not specified.
• On Citizens and Producers: Specialty crop farmers could gain access to affordable advanced tools, leading to higher productivity, lower labor costs, and safer working conditions (e.g., reducing dust exposure). This may help smaller or mid-sized farms compete with larger operations or imports.
• On International Relations: By boosting U.S. agricultural efficiency, the bill could strengthen the country's position in global trade for specialty crops, potentially reducing reliance on foreign labor or imports, though no direct international provisions are included.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Primary Beneficiaries: Commercial specialty crop producers (e.g., fruit and vegetable growers in states like California, as indicated by the bill's sponsors).
• Government Entities: USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (program administrator) and Congress (for funding approvals).
• Secondary Groups: Agricultural workers (who receive training), equipment manufacturers and suppliers (increased demand), and consumers (potentially lower food prices or improved supply stability).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The program relies on existing USDA authority under the 1946 Act, with no new regulatory burdens, but grant administration must follow federal procurement and matching fund rules to avoid legal challenges. The bill's broad definition of eligible equipment gives the Secretary flexibility, which could lead to interpretive disputes if not clarified in implementation.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's enumerated power to regulate interstate commerce and promote agriculture (Article I, Section 8), with no apparent conflicts.
• Political: Sponsored by bipartisan California representatives, it highlights regional interests in labor-intensive crops. Success may depend on farm bill reauthorizations or budget negotiations, potentially influencing broader debates on agricultural innovation, workforce shortages, and trade competitiveness. No partisan controversies are evident in the text.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

Cosponsors (8)

Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-02: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2025-09-02: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-02: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which the Secretary will award grants to specialty crop producers to acquire certain equipment and provide training with respect to the use of such equipment. — issued 2025-09-02 — PDF (4 pages)