HR-4425 : Still Just a Bill

Food and Farm Act

This bill reauthorizes and modifies several Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that address:

  • commodity support,
  • crop insurance,
  • conservation,
  • food assistance,
  • nutrition,
  • farm credit,
  • beginning farmers and ranchers,
  • food waste,
  • research and educational programs,
  • animal welfare, and
  • regional food systems.

The bill modifies agriculture and nutrition policies to:

  • repeal the Agriculture Risk Coverage Program and the Price Loss Coverage Program,
  • impose additional limits on farm subsidies,
  • extend crop insurance premium subsidies to farmers who plant crops to reduce erosion,
  • require recipients of farm subsidies to comply with additional conservation requirements,
  • authorize increased funding for conservation programs,
  • authorize additional assistance under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for organic farmers,
  • establish a loan program for conservation-based structural improvements,
  • increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) benefits,
  • authorize additional assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers,
  • establish the Office of Food Waste within USDA,
  • authorize additional funding for research and education programs,
  • require USDA to comply with certain animal welfare standards at federal agricultural research centers,
  • require USDA to reinstate online posting of Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act enforcement records, and
  • expand grant and loan programs for local and regional food systems.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2017-11-16IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.House floor actions
2017-11-16IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.House floor actions
2017-11-16IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.House floor actions
2017-11-16IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.House floor actions
2017-11-16IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Earl Blumenauer [D] (OR-3)
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Agriculture and Food
See Subjects
  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Advisory bodies
  • Agricultural conservation and pollution
  • Agricultural education
  • Agricultural insurance
  • Agricultural marketing and promotion
  • Agricultural practices and innovations
  • Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
  • Agricultural research
  • Air quality
  • Animal protection and human-animal relationships
  • Climate change and greenhouse gases
  • Competition and antitrust
  • Congressional oversight
  • Consumer affairs
  • Crimes against animals and natural resources
  • Employment and training programs
  • Executive agency funding and structure
  • Farmland
  • Food assistance and relief
  • Food industry and services
  • Food supply, safety, and labeling
  • Government information and archives
  • Government lending and loan guarantees
  • Income tax credits
  • Livestock
  • Mammals
  • Meat
  • Minority and disadvantaged businesses
  • Nutrition and diet
  • Poverty and welfare assistance
  • Research administration and funding
  • Solid waste and recycling
  • Trade restrictions
  • U.S. territories and protectorates
  • Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
  • Wetlands
  • Charitable contributions
  • Alaska
  • American Samoa
  • Caribbean area
  • Guam
  • Hawaii
  • Puerto Rico
  • Virgin Islands
  • Department of Agriculture

Related Bills

See Related Bills