TEMP Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3843
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-18T13:57:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Temperature Event Mitigation Policy Act (TEMP Act) seeks to improve risk management for U.S. farmers by directing federal efforts to develop new crop insurance options specifically for losses caused by frost or cold weather events. This aims to protect agricultural production from rare but severe weather risks, building on existing federal crop insurance programs.
Key Provisions
- Research and Development Mandate: The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), a government agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), must conduct or contract for research and development (R&D) on an "index-based policy." This is a type of insurance that uses measurable data (like temperature readings) to determine payouts, rather than individual farm inspections, making it easier and faster to administer.
- Scope of Coverage: The policy would apply nationwide to various crops vulnerable to frost or cold, including tomatoes, peppers, sugarcane, strawberries, melons, citrus, peaches, blueberries, and others. It focuses on protecting against low-frequency, high-impact (catastrophic) weather events.
- R&D Objectives: The work must assess the effectiveness of tools like indexes for managing such risks and produce a policy that covers at least one of: production loss (e.g., reduced crop yield) or revenue loss (e.g., lower income from damaged crops).
- Reporting Requirement: Within one year of the bill's enactment, the FCIC must submit a report to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The report will detail R&D results and any recommendations for implementing the insurance.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (a 1980 law that authorizes the FCIC to develop and oversee crop insurance programs) by adding a new subsection (20). Previously, the law allowed broad R&D on crop insurance but did not specifically require work on frost or cold weather risks or index-based policies for these events. This introduces a targeted mandate, expanding the FCIC's research priorities without altering core insurance operations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The FCIC and USDA will need to allocate budget and staff for R&D, potentially through contracts with experts. This could lead to new insurance products if the research succeeds, increasing the agency's role in climate-related agricultural support.
- Citizens (Farmers and Agricultural Communities): Farmers in frost-prone regions could gain access to more reliable insurance, reducing financial losses from weather events and stabilizing rural economies. This might lower the need for emergency federal aid after disasters.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though enhanced U.S. agricultural resilience could indirectly support global food supply chains by maintaining stable crop production.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Farmers and Crop Producers: Especially those growing perishable or frost-sensitive fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops in states like Florida, California, Georgia, and Texas.
- Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) and USDA: Responsible for executing the R&D and potentially rolling out new policies.
- Congressional Committees: The House and Senate agriculture committees, which oversee the program and will receive the required report.
- Insurance Providers and Researchers: Private companies or experts contracted for R&D, and approved insurance providers who could offer the new policies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The amendment fits within the existing framework of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, authorizing federal spending on agricultural risk management without needing new appropriations (though funding would come from the FCIC's budget). It promotes efficiency through index-based insurance, which could reduce administrative burdens and disputes over claims.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; it aligns with Congress's enumerated powers under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate agriculture and commerce.
- Political: The bill underscores growing concerns about weather extremes, possibly linked to climate change, and could appeal to bipartisan support for farm aid. If enacted, it might set a precedent for future targeted R&D on other weather risks, influencing farm policy debates in upcoming agricultural bills.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2026-02-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Temperature Event Mitigation Policy Act — issued 2026-02-11 — PDF (3 pages)