Partnerships for Agricultural Climate Action Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6341
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-16T08:07:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Partnerships for Agricultural Climate Action Act (H.R. 6341) aims to support climate resilience and sustainability in U.S. agriculture by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to award grants to eligible organizations. These grants fund the creation, refinement, or execution of plans that help farms adapt to climate changes (like severe weather) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through better land management practices.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Climate adaptation: Changes to farming systems to make them less vulnerable to climate impacts, such as improving soil health or nutrient use to recover from extreme weather.
- Climate mitigation: Adjustments to farming that cut greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon in soil or plants.
- Covered entities: Eligible recipients include state agriculture departments, Tribal governments, farmer groups, cooperatives, universities, conservation districts, and organizations experienced in working with farmers on climate-related conservation.
- Eligible proposals: Plans for farm activities that align with USDA's climate strategies, scientific research, and traditional Indigenous knowledge; they must aim for outcomes like increased carbon storage, lower emissions, or better weather resilience.
- Traditional ecological knowledge and Indigenous agricultural knowledge: Time-tested practices from Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and other Indigenous communities about sustainable relationships with the environment.
- Grant Program:
- Grants are available to develop/modify or implement eligible proposals on agricultural land.
- Applications must include performance measures (ways to track success) and assurances that federal funds add to, rather than replace, existing spending.
- Tribal governments can join other entities' applications or apply independently.
- The Secretary must solicit applications starting 180 days after enactment, with ongoing rounds until funds are used up.
- Selection prioritizes proposals with high potential for carbon storage, emissions cuts, and resilience; geographic diversity is required.
- Extra priority for proposals benefiting underserved farmers (e.g., beginners, socially disadvantaged, veterans, small family farms), transitioning to eco-friendly systems, supporting conservation (e.g., soil health, water quality), or using Indigenous knowledge.
- Implementation Details:
- Grants can fund technical/financial aid to farmers, on-farm research, education, monitoring emissions/carbon, networking among farmers, and more.
- Terms: 1-2 years (renewable once) for development/modification; 1-5 years (renewable) for implementation.
- Amounts: Up to $7.5 million/year for development; up to $15 million/year for implementation.
- Federal share: Up to 75% for development and 50% for implementation for non-Tribal entities; 100% for Tribal development and 85% for Tribal implementation (with non-federal matching required).
- Partnerships among covered entities are allowed.
- Recipients must report progress, conduct annual audits, and face penalties (like grant disqualification) for noncompliance.
- Administrative costs capped: 3% for USDA, 10% for non-Tribal recipients, 15% for Tribal recipients.
- Funding:
- $150 million annually from 2026 through 2034, drawn from existing conservation funds.
- At least 33% for development/modification, 33% for implementation, and 33% reserved for Tribal authorities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 (a law governing conservation programs):
- Adds "Tribal" to references for state technical assistance providers.
- Expands a pollution reduction goal to include "emissions reductions" (targeting greenhouse gases alongside pollutants).
- Redesignates an existing subsection and inserts a new subsection (d) to create the grant program, integrating climate-specific focus into broader conservation efforts without altering core structures.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will administer the program, requiring new processes for applications, selections, and oversight; this could strain resources initially but build long-term capacity for climate programs. State and Tribal agencies gain funding access, potentially easing their conservation workloads.
- Citizens: Farmers and ranchers, especially underserved groups, benefit from technical and financial support to adopt resilient practices, potentially lowering costs from weather disasters and improving farm viability. Broader public gains include environmental benefits like cleaner water, healthier soils, and reduced national emissions.
- International Relations: Indirectly supports U.S. climate commitments (e.g., under global agreements like the Paris Accord) by advancing agricultural carbon sequestration and emissions reductions, enhancing the U.S. image as a leader in sustainable farming without direct foreign policy changes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary: Covered entities (e.g., state/Tribal agriculture departments, farmer cooperatives, universities, conservation groups) as grant recipients; agricultural producers (farmers, ranchers) as end-users of funded activities.
- Secondary: Underserved communities (beginning, socially disadvantaged, veteran, and small family farmers); Indigenous groups through prioritized use of traditional knowledge; USDA and its Natural Resources Conservation Service for program management.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing conservation laws by embedding climate goals, with built-in accountability (audits, performance reviews) to ensure funds are used effectively; no new regulatory burdens on private land but encourages voluntary adoption.
- Constitutional: Aligns with federal authority over agriculture and environmental policy (e.g., under the Commerce Clause); promotes equity for underserved and Tribal groups, advancing environmental justice without raising equal protection concerns.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan push for climate action in agriculture (introduced by Democrats but focused on practical farming support); commits long-term funding, signaling policy stability, but could spark debates over federal spending priorities or integration of Indigenous knowledge in federal programs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- 2025-12-01: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-12-01: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-01: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Partnerships for Agricultural Climate Action Act — issued 2025-12-01 — PDF (18 pages)