Bringing Assistance for Rural Needs During Shutdowns Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6018

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-10: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-04-28T15:09:37Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation, titled the "Bringing Assistance for Rural Needs During Shutdowns Act" (H.R. 6018), aims to keep offices of the Farm Services Agency (FSA)—a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that supports farmers and rural communities—open and operational during federal government shutdowns. It does this by classifying FSA services as essential, preventing disruptions to critical agricultural assistance when Congress fails to pass funding bills on time.

Key Provisions

• Short Title (Section 1): Officially names the act the "Bringing Assistance for Rural Needs During Shutdowns Act."
• Essential Services Designation (Section 2): Declares that any services provided by FSA officers or employees are considered "services for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property" under 31 U.S.C. § 1342 (part of the Antideficiency Act, which limits government spending without congressional appropriations). This allows FSA to continue operations during shutdowns without violating federal spending rules.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Under current law (the Antideficiency Act), most federal agencies must halt non-essential activities during shutdowns due to lack of funding. This bill creates a specific exception for the FSA, treating its work as an emergency service. This is a targeted amendment that does not broadly alter shutdown rules but ensures FSA's continuity, similar to exceptions for agencies like air traffic control or national parks in past shutdowns.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The FSA and the Department of Agriculture can maintain full operations, avoiding furloughs for staff and delays in programs like farm loans, crop insurance, and disaster aid. This reduces administrative burdens during shutdowns.
• On Citizens: Farmers, ranchers, and rural residents benefit from uninterrupted access to vital services, such as financial assistance and technical support, which could prevent economic losses in agriculture during funding gaps. Urban or non-agricultural citizens are largely unaffected.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic agricultural operations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Farmers and Rural Communities: Primary beneficiaries, as they rely on FSA for loans, subsidies, and recovery aid, especially in times of economic stress like natural disasters.
• FSA Employees: Protected from furloughs, ensuring job stability during shutdowns.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: Gains operational certainty, allowing better planning for agricultural programs.
• Congress and Taxpayers: Indirectly affected, as the bill promotes efficient use of funds by minimizing shutdown disruptions, though it could set a precedent for similar exemptions in other sectors.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens the interpretation of "emergency services" under the Antideficiency Act by explicitly including agricultural support, potentially reducing legal challenges to FSA operations during shutdowns. It does not override the need for eventual congressional appropriations.
• Constitutional: Aligns with the Appropriations Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 9), which requires spending to be authorized by Congress, by carving out a narrow exception for predefined essential services without enabling unchecked executive spending.
• Political: Could encourage similar protections for other essential agencies, influencing future shutdown negotiations. Introduced by bipartisan representatives from rural districts, it highlights agriculture's political importance and the desire to shield it from partisan funding disputes.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]

Cosponsors (7)

Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-10: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2025-11-10: Introduced in House
• 2025-11-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Bringing Assistance for Rural Needs During Shutdowns Act — issued 2025-11-10 — PDF (2 pages)