Economic Relief for Specialty Crops Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4660
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-02: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-15T17:45:09Z
AI-Generated Summary
Economic Relief for Specialty Crops Act (S. 4660)
Purpose
This legislation appropriates federal funds to support producers of specialty crops through direct payments administered by the Department of Agriculture.
Key Provisions
- Appropriation: Provides $5,000,000,000 to the Secretary of Agriculture for fiscal year 2027, available until expended.
- Eligible Recipients: Payments target producers of specialty crops, defined under the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004.
- Program Authority: Funds support the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program (announced February 13, 2026) or any substantially similar program under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act.
- Payment Terms: Distributions must follow the conditions outlined in the January 8, 2025, notice titled "Notice; Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops" (90 Fed. Reg. 1434).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill introduces new, one-time appropriations for fiscal year 2027 without amending underlying statutes. It relies on existing Commodity Credit Corporation authority to implement payments but does not alter program eligibility rules or definitions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases funding obligations for the Department of Agriculture and draws on Commodity Credit Corporation resources.
- Citizens: Provides financial assistance to specialty crop producers, potentially stabilizing income for affected farms.
- International Relations: No direct provisions affect trade or foreign policy.
Main Stakeholders
- Specialty crop producers (e.g., growers of fruits, vegetables, and nuts).
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- The Commodity Credit Corporation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill uses standard appropriations language and references existing regulatory notices, creating no apparent constitutional conflicts. It operates within established agricultural assistance frameworks and requires Senate and House approval to become law.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-02: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2026-06-02: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Economic Relief for Specialty Crops Act — issued 2026-06-02 — PDF (2 pages)