H.R. 7206

119 HR 7206 IH: Farm and Family Relief Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-01-22
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 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 7206  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   January 22, 2026   Ms. Craig  (for herself,  Mr. David Scott of Georgia ,  Mr. Costa ,  Ms. Adams ,  Mrs. Hayes ,  Ms. Brown ,  Ms. Salinas ,  Ms. Tokuda ,  Ms. Budzinski ,  Mr. Sorensen ,  Mr. Vasquez ,  Mr. Jackson of Illinois ,  Mr. Thanedar ,  Mr. Gray ,  Ms. McDonald Rivet ,  Mr. Figures ,  Mr. Vindman ,  Mr. Riley of New York ,  Mr. Mannion ,  Mrs. McClain Delaney , and  Mr. Carbajal ) introduced the following bill; which was 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   A BILL
To provide for economic assistance to agricultural producers, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Farm and Family Relief Act  .
2.
Economic assistance for families
(a)
Benefit cost-Shift delay
Section 4(a)(2)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2013(a)(2)(B) ) is amended—
(1)
in clause (i) by striking  2028  and inserting  2032 ;
(2)
in clause (ii)—
(A)
in subclause (I)—
(i)
by striking  2028  each place it appears and inserting  2032 ; and
(ii)
by striking  2025 or 2026  and inserting  2029 or 2030 ; and
(B)
in subclause (II) by striking  2029  each place it appears and inserting  2033 ; and
(3)
by striking clause (iii).
(b)
Administrative cost-Shift delay
Section 16(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2025(a) ) is amended by striking  through fiscal year 2026, 50 percent, and for fiscal year 2027  and inserting  through fiscal year 2028, 50 percent, and for fiscal year 2029 .
3.
Economic assistance for producers of eligible commodities
(a)
In general
(1)
Economic assistance payments
With respect to the 2025 crop year, if the Secretary determines that the expected gross return per acre for an eligible commodity determined under paragraph (2) is less than the expected cost of production per acre for that eligible commodity determined under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, make a 1-time economic assistance payment to each producer of that eligible commodity during that crop year.
(2)
Expected gross return per acre
The expected gross return per acre for an eligible commodity referred to in paragraph (1) shall be equal to—
(A)
in the case of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, cotton, rice, and soybeans, the product obtained by multiplying—
(i)
the projected average farm price for the applicable eligible commodity for the 2025–2026 marketing year contained in the December 2025 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates published by the World Agricultural Outlook Board on December 9, 2025; and
(ii)
the national average harvested yield per acre for the applicable eligible commodity for the most recent 10 crop years, as determined by the Secretary; and
(B)
in the case of each eligible commodity not specified in subparagraph (A), a comparable estimate of gross returns, as determined by the Secretary.
(3)
Expected cost of production
The expected cost of production per acre for an eligible commodity referred to in paragraph (1) shall be equal to—
(A)
in the case of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, cotton, rice, and soybeans, the total costs listed for the 2025 crop year with respect to the applicable eligible commodity contained in the data product relating to such commodity and crop year entitled  U.S. Commodity Costs and Returns by Region and by Commodity  published by the Economic Research Service; and
(4)
Payment amounts
(A)
In general
The amount of an economic assistance payment to a producer for an eligible commodity under paragraph (1) shall be equal to the difference between—
(i)
the amount equal to 65 percent of the product obtained by multiplying—
(I)
the economic loss for that eligible commodity determined under subparagraph (B); and
(II)
the eligible acres of that eligible commodity on the farm determined under subparagraph (C); and
(ii)
the amount of any payment issued by the Secretary to such producer with respect to crop year 2025 for such eligible commodity or such eligible acres on the farm under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the Department of Agriculture as described in the press release of the Department of Agriculture on December 8, 2025 (Release No. 0239.25).
(B)
Economic loss
For purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), the economic loss for an eligible commodity shall be equal to the difference between—
(i)
the expected cost of production per acre for that eligible commodity, as determined under paragraph (3); and
(ii)
the expected gross return per acre for that eligible commodity, as determined under paragraph (2).
(C)
Eligible acres
For purposes of subparagraph (A)(i)(II), the eligible acres of an eligible commodity on a farm shall be equal to the sum obtained by adding—
(i)
the acreage planted on the farm to that eligible commodity for harvest, grazing, haying, silage, or other similar purposes for the 2025 crop year; and
(ii)
an amount equal to 100 percent of the acreage on the farm that was prevented from being planted during the 2025 crop year to that eligible commodity because of drought, flood, or other natural disaster, or other condition beyond the control of the producers on the farm, as determined by the Secretary.
(D)
Acreage planted
For purposes of subparagraph (C)(i), the Secretary shall consider acreage planted to include any land devoted to planted acres for accepted skip-row planting patterns, as determined by the Secretary.
(E)
Data
If the Secretary determines there is insufficient data to determine the comparable estimate of gross returns with respect to an eligible commodity under paragraph (2)(B) or a comparable total estimated cost-of-production with respect to an eligible commodity under paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary shall use data related to a similarly situated commodity for purposes of determining the payment amount under this paragraph.
(b)
Payment limitations
(1)
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), sections 1001, 1001A, 1001B, and 1001C of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 7 U.S.C. 1308 , 1308–1, 1308–2, 1308–3) shall apply with respect to assistance provided under this section.
(2)
Exception
The total amount of payments received, directly or indirectly, by a person or legal entity (except a joint venture or general partnership) under this section may not exceed—
(A)
$125,000, if less than 75 percent of the average gross income of the person or legal entity for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 tax years is derived from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities; and
(B)
$250,000, if not less than 75 percent of the average gross income of the person or legal entity for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 tax years is derived from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities.
(c)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
The terms  extra-long staple cotton  and  producer  have the meanings given those terms in section 1111 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9011 ).
(2)
The term  cotton  means extra-long staple cotton and upland cotton.
(3)
(A)
The term  eligible commodity  means a loan commodity (as defined in section 1201(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9031(a) )).
(B)
The term  eligible commodity  does not include graded wool, nongraded wool, mohair, or honey.
(4)
The terms  legal entity  and  person  have the meanings given those terms in section 1001(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 7 U.S.C. 1308(a) ).
(5)
The term  rice  means long grain rice and medium grain rice.
(6)
The payment limitations under paragraph (2) shall be separate from annual payment limitations under any other program.
4.
Economic assistance for sugar beet producers
(a)
In general
(1)
Block grants
From the amounts appropriated under subsection (c), the Secretary shall make block grants to sugar beet cooperatives to carry out economic assistance payments in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2)
Use of funds
A sugar beet cooperative that receives a block grant under paragraph (1) may only use the grant funds to make payments to members of such cooperative that are sugar beet producers for the economic losses incurred by such producers during the 2025 crop year for sugar beets.
(b)
Payments
In carrying out the block grants under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall—
(1)
establish, in consultation with sugar beet cooperatives, a per-acre payment rate for purposes of determining the amount and allocation of such block grants; and
(2)
reduce from the amount of a block grant to a sugar beet cooperative, as determined under paragraph (1), the total amount of assistance each member of such cooperative that is a sugar beet producer received for the 2025 crop year under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the Department of Agriculture as described in the press release of the Department of Agriculture on December 8, 2025 (Release No. 0239.25).
(c)
Appropriation
There is appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $330,000,000.
5.
Economic assistance for specialty crops
(a)
In general
The Secretary shall establish and implement a program under which the Secretary will provide a one-time payment to eligible producers to aid such producers in—
(1)
expanding domestic markets for the covered specialty crops of such producers; or
(2)
developing new markets for such crops.
(b)
Application
An eligible producer seeking payment under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(c)
Amount of payments
(1)
In general
Except as specified in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall calculate the amount of the payment under this section to an eligible producer based on the producer’s sales of covered specialty crops in calendar year 2025.
(2)
New producers
(A)
In general
In the case of a new producer, the Secretary shall calculate the amount of the payment under this section using the new producer’s estimate of their sales of covered specialty crops in calendar year 2026.
(B)
Required documentation
A new producer shall provide to the Secretary as evidence to support the estimate referred to in paragraph (1)—
(i)
a legally binding contract or agreement under which the producer has agreed to sell a covered specialty crop during calendar year 2026; or
(ii)
evidence that, at the time of application, a covered specialty crop has been planted and is expected to be harvested and sold in calendar year 2026.
(3)
Maximum amount
The maximum amount of the payment an eligible producer may receive under this section shall not exceed $900,000. Such maximum amount may be reduced if the amount of funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year is insufficient (as determined by the Secretary) to make all payments for which applications are submitted under this section.
(4)
Reduction of total payment
The amount of the payment an eligible producer may receive under this section with respect to a covered specialty crop shall be reduced by the amount of any payment issued by the Secretary to such producer for such covered specialty crop (or acres on the farm planted to such crop) under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the Department of Agriculture (as described in the press release of the Department of Agriculture on December 8, 2025 (Release No. 0239.25)).
(5)
Prohibition on duplicate payments
An eligible producer may not receive financial assistance under this section and under section 6 with respect to the same losses.
(d)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Covered specialty crop
The term  covered specialty crop  means—
(A)
a specialty crop;
(B)
dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed;
(C)
Christmas trees;
(D)
any culinary and medicinal herb or spice;
(E)
honey, hops, maple sap, tea, coffee, turfgrass, and grass seed; and
(F)
such other crop as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(2)
Eligible producer
The term  eligible producer  means a producer of covered specialty crops (including a new producer) that—
(A)
(i)
is in the business of producing covered specialty crops as of the date on which the producer seeks payment under this section; and
(ii)
is entitled to an ownership share and shares in the risk of producing a covered specialty crop that will be sold in the calendar year for which payment is sought;
(B)
is—
(i)
a citizen of the United States or lawful alien (as defined in section 1400.3 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations));
(ii)
a partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other organizational structure organized under State law;
(iii)
an Indian Tribe or Tribal Organization (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 )); or
(iv)
a foreign person that meets the requirements specified in section 1400.401 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and
(C)
has an average adjusted gross income that—
(i)
is less than $900,000 for the preceding three tax years; or
(ii)
equals or exceeds $900,000 if the producers’s average adjusted gross farm income is at least 75 percent of the producer’s average adjusted gross income.
(3)
New producer
The term  new producer  means a producer of covered specialty crops who, at the time of application for payment under this section—
(A)
began producing specialty crops in either of the preceding two crop years but did not have sales due to the immaturity of the crop;
(B)
began producing specialty crops in the preceding crop year but did not have a complete year of sales; or
(C)
is beginning to grow specialty crops in the crop year with respect to which the application is submitted.
(4)
Specialty crop
The term  specialty crop  has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 ( 7 U.S.C. 1621  note;  Public Law 108–465 ).
(e)
Funding
(1)
In general
There is appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000,000 to carry out this section.
(2)
Reduction based on other funding
In providing payments under this section, the Secretary shall use an amount equal to the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) reduced by any amount obligated by the Secretary for payments to eligible producers of specialty crops under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the Department of Agriculture (as described in the press release of the Department of Agriculture on December 8, 2025 (Release No. 0239.25)).
(3)
Rescission
Effective on the date that is the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, there is rescinded from the unobligated balance of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) an amount equal to the amount under paragraph (1) reduced by the amount obligated by the Secretary for payments to eligible producers of specialty crops under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the Department of Agriculture (as described in the press release of the Department of Agriculture on December 8, 2025 (Release No. 0239.25)) for such period.
6.
Financial assistance for qualified timber losses
(a)
The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide to an eligible entity that submits an application under subsection (b)—
(1)
a one-time payment or grant, as determined by the Secretary, for qualified timber losses;
(2)
a one-time loan or loan guarantee, as determined by the Secretary, for purposes of enabling the eligible entity to—
(A)
address or offset increases in the timber-related business operating costs of the eligible entity during calendar year 2025 due to market and economic conditions, as determined by the Secretary; or
(B)
establish, reopen, expand, or improve the timber-related operations of the eligible entity; or
(3)
a payment or grant under paragraph (1) and a loan or loan guarantee under paragraph (2).
(b)
To be eligible to receive financial assistance under the program under subsection (a) an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(c)
(1)
The amount of a payment or grant the Secretary provides to an eligible entity under subsection (a)(1) shall not exceed the amount that is the lesser of the following:
(A)
The amount equal to $40,000 reduced by the amount described in paragraph (3).
(B)
The amount equal to—
(i)
the amount equal to 65 percent of the qualified timber losses of the eligible entity; reduced by
(ii)
the amount described in paragraph (3).
(2)
The amount of a loan or loan guarantee the Secretary provides to an eligible entity under subsection (a)(2) shall not exceed the amount equal to $5,000,000 reduced by the amount described in paragraph (3).
(3)
The amount described in this paragraph is, with respect to an eligible entity, the amount of any financial assistance the eligible entity receives with respect to calendar year 2025 under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program of the Department of Agriculture (as described in the press release of the Department of Agriculture on December 8, 2025 (Release No. 0239.25)) for qualified timber losses.
(4)
An eligible entity may not receive financial assistance under this section and under section 5 with respect to the same losses.
(d)
(1)
There is appropriated to the Secretary $500,000,000 to carry out this section.
(2)
Of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1)—
(A)
the Secretary shall use $250,000,000 to provide payments or grants under subsection (a)(1); and
(B)
the Secretary shall use $250,000,000 to provide loans or loan guarantees under subsection (a)(2).
(3)
If the Secretary determines the amount of funds under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) is insufficient to provide the financial assistance specified in such subparagraphs, the Secretary may ratably reduce such assistance.
(e)
In this section:
(1)
The term  eligible entity  means an entity that—
(A)
(i)
is in the business of growing, producing, harvesting, transporting, or processing timber, including for lumber, pulp, and paper, as of the date on which the entity submits an application under subsection (b), and was in business during the prior calendar year; or
(ii)
is entitled to an ownership share, and shares in the risk, of timber production on private forest land in the United States relating to an application under subsection (b); and
(B)
(i)
in the case of an entity that is an individual, is a citizen of the United States or lawful alien (as defined in section 1400.3 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations));
(ii)
is a partnership, corporation, cooperative, limited liability company, or other organizational structure organized under State law;
(iii)
is an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 )); or
(iv)
is a foreign person that meets the requirements specified in section 1400.401 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(2)
The term  qualified timber losses  means the timber-related revenue losses of an eligible entity that occurred during calendar year 2025 due to market and economic conditions, as determined by the Secretary.
7.
Office of Technology Transfer
(a)
Establishment
There is established within the Forest Service an Office of Technology Transfer (referred to this subsection as the  Office ).
(b)
Mission
The mission of the Office shall be—
(1)
to expand the commercial impact of the research investments of the Forest Service; and
(2)
to provide for the commercialization of technologies that support the mission of the Forest Service.
(c)
Chief Commercialization Officer
(1)
In general
The Office shall be headed by an officer, who shall—
(A)
be known as the  Chief Commercialization Officer ; and
(B)
report to the Deputy Chief of the Forest Service for Research and Development.
(2)
Qualifications
An individual appointed to the position of Chief Commercialization Officer shall be an individual who, by reason of professional background and experience, is specially qualified to advise the Chief of the Forest Service and the Deputy Chief of the Forest Service for Research and Development on technology transfer at the Forest Service.
(3)
Duties
The Chief Commercialization Officer shall—
(A)
oversee the expenditure of funds allocated for technology transfer within the Forest Service;
(B)
represent the Forest Service on—
(i)
the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer established by section 11(e) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3710(e) ); and
(ii)
other similar interagency coordinating entities;
(C)
coordinate with—
(i)
other technology transfer and commercialization offices within the Department of Agriculture; and
(ii)
other similar Federal entities, as appropriate;
(D)
oversee efforts to engage with private sector entities, including venture capital companies, on issues relating to technology transfer and commercialization; and
(E)
coordinate efforts to patent or otherwise protect under title 35, United States Code, any inventions arising from a Forest Service laboratory.
(d)
Technology transfer working group
(1)
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish within the Forest Service a Technology Transfer Working Group, which shall consist of—
(A)
the Deputy Chief of the Forest Service for Research and Development;
(B)
the Chief Commercialization Officer appointed under subsection (c);
(C)
representatives from each research station within the Forest Service; and
(D)
representatives from other Forest Service entities with relevant expertise, as appropriate.
(2)
Duties
The Technology Transfer Working Group established under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
assist with the coordination of technology transfer and commercialization opportunities occurring at Forest Service laboratories;
(B)
develop and disseminate guidance to researchers at Forest Service laboratories on technology transfer and commercialization requirements under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq. ) and associated agreements to implement those requirements; and
(C)
develop and disseminate to the public and prospective technology partners information about opportunities and procedures for technology transfer with the Forest Service.
(3)
Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter, the Technology Transfer Working Group established under paragraph (1) shall submit to Congress a report that describes—
(A)
the number of cooperative research and development agreements entered into by the Forest Service under section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3710a ) during the preceding 5 years;
(B)
the number of agreements with partnership intermediaries entered into by the Forest Service under section 23 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3715 ) during the preceding 5 years;
(C)
the number of licenses and other use authorizations issued by the Forest Service for patents held by the Forest Service during the preceding 5 years; and
(D)
recommendations for legislative, programmatic, or regulatory changes to support the mission of the Office.
(e)
Funding
Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
8.
Amendments to the International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990
The International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990 ( 16 U.S.C. 4501 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
612.
Domestic market assistance program
(a)
Establishment
The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary may undertake such activities as the Secretary determines appropriate—
(1)
to access, develop, maintain, and expand international markets for United States agricultural timber products, including lumber, pulp, and paper; and
(2)
to promote cooperation and the exchange of information between domestic and international agricultural timber product market participants as a means of promoting the export and sale of such United States timber products.
(b)
Funding
Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary for use carrying out this section $15,000,000, to remain available until expended.
 .
9.
Termination of certain Executive orders imposing tariffs
Duties imposed by the following Executive orders, and any successor or substantially similar Executive orders, shall have no force or effect on and after the date of the enactment of this Act:
(1)
Executive Order 14257 (90 Fed. Reg. 15041).
(2)
Executive Order 14193 (90 Fed. Reg. 9113).
(3)
Executive Order 14194 (90 Fed. Reg. 9117).
(4)
Executive Order 14195 (90 Fed. Reg. 9121).
10.
General provisions
(a)
Definition of Secretary
In this Act, the term  Secretary  means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(b)
Emergency designation
Amounts provided under this Act are designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 ( 2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i) ).