HR 7206
Farm and Family Relief Act
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Bill overview
The Farm and Family Relief Act provides economic assistance to agricultural producers and addresses challenges faced by the farming community. It delays cost-sharing requirements for certain food assistance programs, offers one-time payments to farmers based on expected crop losses, and establishes programs to support sugar beet producers and specialty crops. Additionally, the bill creates an Office of Technology Transfer within the Forest Service to promote the commercialization of forestry research and terminates certain tariffs imposed through executive orders.
Key provisions
- Delays cost-sharing requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Provides one-time economic assistance payments to eligible farmers based on expected crop losses.
- Establishes a program for sugar beet cooperatives to provide economic assistance to their members.
- Creates a program to support domestic markets for specialty crops.
- Creates an Office of Technology Transfer within the Forest Service to facilitate technology transfer and commercialization.
- Terminates tariffs imposed by specific executive orders.
- Establishes a program for international forestry cooperation and market assistance.
- Designates the bill as an emergency requirement.
Who is affected
- Agricultural producers (farmers, ranchers, etc.)
- SNAP recipients
- Sugar beet producers
- Specialty crop producers
- Forestry researchers and stakeholders
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 7206
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To provide for economic assistance to agricultural producers, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Farm and Family Relief Act
.
in clause (i) by striking 2028
and inserting 2032
;
in clause (ii)—
by striking 2028
each place it appears and inserting 2032
; and
by striking 2025 or 2026
and inserting 2029 or 2030
; and
2029each place it appears and inserting
2033; and
by striking clause (iii).
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
.
The expected gross return per acre for an eligible commodity referred to in paragraph (1) shall be equal to—
in the case of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, cotton, rice, and soybeans, the product obtained by multiplying—
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
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
in the case of each eligible commodity not specified in subparagraph (A), a comparable estimate of gross returns, as determined by the Secretary.
The expected cost of production per acre for an eligible commodity referred to in paragraph (1) shall be equal to—
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
The amount of an economic assistance payment to a producer for an eligible commodity under paragraph (1) shall be equal to the difference between—
the amount equal to 65 percent of the product obtained by multiplying—
the economic loss for that eligible commodity determined under subparagraph (B); and
the eligible acres of that eligible commodity on the farm determined under subparagraph (C); and
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).
For purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), the economic loss for an eligible commodity shall be equal to the difference between—
the expected cost of production per acre for that eligible commodity, as determined under paragraph (3); and
the expected gross return per acre for that eligible commodity, as determined under paragraph (2).
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—
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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—
$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
$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.
In this section:
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).
The term cotton means extra-long staple cotton and upland cotton.
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))).
The term eligible commodity does not include graded wool, nongraded wool, mohair, or honey.
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)).
The term rice means long grain rice and medium grain rice.
The payment limitations under paragraph (2) shall be separate from annual payment limitations under any other program.
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.
In carrying out the block grants under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall—
There is appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $330,000,000.
expanding domestic markets for the covered specialty crops of such producers; or
developing new markets for such crops.
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.
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.
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.
An eligible producer may not receive financial assistance under this section and under section 6 with respect to the same losses.
In this section:
The term covered specialty crop means—
a specialty crop;
Christmas trees;
honey, hops, maple sap, tea, coffee, turfgrass, and grass seed; and
such other crop as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
The term eligible producer means a producer of covered specialty crops (including a new producer) that—
is in the business of producing covered specialty crops as of the date on which the producer seeks payment under this section; and
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;
a partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other organizational structure organized under State law;
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
a foreign person that meets the requirements specified in section 1400.401 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and
has an average adjusted gross income that—
is less than $900,000 for the preceding three tax years; or
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.
The term new producer means a producer of covered specialty crops who, at the time of application for payment under this section—
began producing specialty crops in the preceding crop year but did not have a complete year of sales; or
is beginning to grow specialty crops in the crop year with respect to which the application is submitted.
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)).
The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide to an eligible entity that submits an application under subsection (b)—
a one-time payment or grant, as determined by the Secretary, for qualified timber losses;
a one-time loan or loan guarantee, as determined by the Secretary, for purposes of enabling the eligible entity to—
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
establish, reopen, expand, or improve the timber-related operations of the eligible entity; or
a payment or grant under paragraph (1) and a loan or loan guarantee under paragraph (2).
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.
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:
The amount equal to $40,000 reduced by the amount described in paragraph (3).
The amount equal to—
the amount equal to 65 percent of the qualified timber losses of the eligible entity; reduced by
the amount described in paragraph (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.
An eligible entity may not receive financial assistance under this section and under section 5 with respect to the same losses.
There is appropriated to the Secretary $500,000,000 to carry out this section.
Of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1)—
the Secretary shall use $250,000,000 to provide payments or grants under subsection (a)(1); and
the Secretary shall use $250,000,000 to provide loans or loan guarantees under subsection (a)(2).
In this section:
The term eligible entity means an entity that—
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
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
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));
is a partnership, corporation, cooperative, limited liability company, or other organizational structure organized under State law;
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
is a foreign person that meets the requirements specified in section 1400.401 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
There is established within the Forest Service an Office of Technology Transfer (referred to this subsection as the Office
).
The mission of the Office shall be—
to expand the commercial impact of the research investments of the Forest Service; and
to provide for the commercialization of technologies that support the mission of the Forest Service.
The Office shall be headed by an officer, who shall—
be known as the Chief Commercialization Officer
; and
report to the Deputy Chief of the Forest Service for Research and Development.
The Chief Commercialization Officer shall—
oversee the expenditure of funds allocated for technology transfer within the Forest Service;
represent the Forest Service on—
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
other similar interagency coordinating entities;
coordinate with—
other technology transfer and commercialization offices within the Department of Agriculture; and
other similar Federal entities, as appropriate;
oversee efforts to engage with private sector entities, including venture capital companies, on issues relating to technology transfer and commercialization; and
coordinate efforts to patent or otherwise protect under title 35, United States Code, any inventions arising from a Forest Service laboratory.
The Secretary shall establish within the Forest Service a Technology Transfer Working Group, which shall consist of—
the Deputy Chief of the Forest Service for Research and Development;
the Chief Commercialization Officer appointed under subsection (c);
representatives from each research station within the Forest Service; and
representatives from other Forest Service entities with relevant expertise, as appropriate.
The Technology Transfer Working Group established under paragraph (1) shall—
assist with the coordination of technology transfer and commercialization opportunities occurring at Forest Service laboratories;
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
develop and disseminate to the public and prospective technology partners information about opportunities and procedures for technology transfer with the Forest Service.
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—
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;
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;
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
recommendations for legislative, programmatic, or regulatory changes to support the mission of the Office.
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.
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:
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:
Executive Order 14257 (90 Fed. Reg. 15041).
Executive Order 14193 (90 Fed. Reg. 9113).
Executive Order 14194 (90 Fed. Reg. 9117).
Executive Order 14195 (90 Fed. Reg. 9121).