Farm and Family Relief Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7206
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-04T20:11:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
## Purpose This legislation, titled the Farm and Family Relief Act, aims to deliver one-time economic assistance to agricultural producers facing losses in the 2025 crop year, support families through adjustments to nutrition assistance programs, and establish new mechanisms for technology transfer and market development in forestry and agriculture.
## Key Provisions
- Delays scheduled shifts in federal and state cost responsibilities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 for benefits and administration, extending federal coverage through later years.
- Authorizes direct payments to producers of major commodities (such as wheat, corn, cotton, rice, and soybeans) when expected returns fall below production costs, calculated at 65 percent of the difference, with eligible acres including planted and prevented-planting land.
- Provides block grants to sugar beet cooperatives for distribution to members based on 2025 losses.
- Creates a program for specialty crop producers, including new entrants, offering payments tied to sales (or projected sales for new producers) up to a $900,000 cap per producer.
- Establishes assistance for timber-related entities, including grants, loans, or guarantees to address revenue losses or operational needs.
- Forms an Office of Technology Transfer within the Forest Service to promote commercialization of research.
- Adds a Domestic Market Assistance Program to the International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990 for expanding timber product exports.
- Terminates specific executive orders on tariffs and any substantially similar follow-on orders.
- Designates all funding as an emergency requirement under budget rules.
## Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to postpone cost-sharing adjustments until 2032 or 2033 in some cases.
- Introduces new standalone assistance authorities outside existing farm programs, with separate payment limits.
- Creates a new Forest Service office and working group for technology transfer activities.
- Modifies the International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990 by adding a market development section.
- Overrides executive branch tariff actions through congressional action.
## Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Increases spending by the Department of Agriculture for direct payments and new programs; requires the Forest Service to establish and staff a technology transfer office with annual funding through 2031.
- On citizens: Provides financial relief to farm families and households using nutrition assistance by maintaining current federal funding shares longer.
- On international relations: Ends certain tariffs, which could alter trade dynamics with affected countries and affect U.S. import costs or retaliatory measures.
## Main Stakeholders Affected
- Agricultural producers of row crops, sugar beets, specialty crops, and timber.
- Sugar beet cooperatives and their member producers.
- Individuals and entities involved in timber growing, harvesting, or processing.
- Recipients of benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act.
- The Forest Service and its research operations.
- Foreign persons or entities meeting eligibility rules for assistance.
## Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Uses emergency budget designation to bypass standard spending limits.
- Directly nullifies executive orders on tariffs, raising questions about the balance between legislative and executive authority in trade policy.
- Applies payment limitations and adjusted gross income tests to target assistance while carving out higher caps for those primarily engaged in farming.
- Includes prohibitions on duplicate payments across programs to prevent overlapping relief.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (30)
Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13], Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-22: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-22: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Farm and Family Relief Act — issued 2026-01-22 — PDF (26 pages)