S. 3861

119 S3861 IS: Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Reauthorization Act of 2026
 U.S. Senate
 2026-02-12
 text/xml
 EN
 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.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 3861  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   February 12, 2026   Mr. Welch  (for himself and  Mrs. Gillibrand ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry    A BILL
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to reauthorize and expand the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy grant program.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Reauthorization Act of 2026  .
2.
Rural Innovation Stronger Economy grant program reauthorization and expansion
(a)
In general
Section 379I of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2008w ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A)(i)—
(I)
by striking  the industry clusters that are objectively identified as ; and
(II)
by inserting  industries in the area served by the partnership  after  declining ; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (B)(ii)—
(I)
by striking subclause (I); and
(II)
by redesignating subclauses (II) through (IV) as subclauses (I) through (III), respectively;
(B)
by striking paragraph (2); and
(C)
by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively;
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately;
(ii)
in clause (ii) (as so redesignated), by striking  opportunities, networks, and industry clusters  and inserting  opportunities and networks ;
(iii)
by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through  The Secretary  in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following:
(1)
Grant program
(A)
In general
The Secretary
 ; and
(iv)
by adding at the end the following:
(B)
Targeted community types
In carrying out the grant program under this paragraph, the Secretary shall—
(i)
target a broad base of rural community types that will benefit from the program, with an emphasis on communities with a population of fewer than 20,000 inhabitants; and
(ii)
of the total amount of grants awarded for each fiscal year, award not less than 10 percent to carry out activities that will benefit rural communities with a population of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants.
 ; and
(B)
in paragraph (3)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A)—
(I)
by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and indenting the subclauses appropriately; and
(II)
in subclause (II) (as so redesignated), by striking  industry cluster ;
(ii)
by striking subparagraph (C);
(iii)
in subparagraph (D), by striking  industry clusters, ;
(iv)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), (E), and (F) as clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately; and
(v)
in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking  shall consider—  and inserting the following:
shall—
(A)
ensure that a diverse set of industry bases is represented;
(B)
only select an eligible entity to receive a grant with the concurrence of the applicable State office of the rural development mission area; and
(C)
take into consideration—
 ;
(3)
in subsection (d)(1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by adding  and  after the semicolon at the end; and
(B)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
in clause (i), by striking  industry clusters, ;
(ii)
in clause (vii), by striking  small businesses in regional industry clusters, including ;
(iii)
in clause (ix), by striking  in the identified industry clusters ; and
(iv)
in clause (x), by striking  industry cluster ;
(4)
in subsection (e)(2)(B)—
(A)
in clause (viii)—
(i)
in subclause (I), by striking  industry cluster  and inserting  activities funded with the grant ; and
(ii)
in subclause (II), by striking  held by the industry cluster  and inserting  relating to those activities convened by relevant organizations ;
(B)
in clauses (xi) and (xii), by striking  industry cluster  each place it appears and inserting  participating regional ; and
(C)
in clause (xiii), by striking  the project activities  and inserting  activities funded with the grant ; and
(5)
by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
(f)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
 .
(b)
Conforming amendment
Section 6306(h)(3)(B)(ii) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 ( 7 U.S.C. 2204b–3(h)(3)(B)(ii) ) is amended, in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking  section 379I(a)(4) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act  and inserting  section 379I(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2008w(a) ) .