H.R. 2638 Introduced Agriculture and Food

Women in Agriculture Act

To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish the position of Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] Introduced April 3, 2025 Cosponsors 4 (2 R, 2 D) Latest action April 18, 2025

Summary

Women in Agriculture Act
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the position of Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison within USDA.
Among other things, the liaison must advocate on behalf of women who are farmers and ranchers in interactions with USDA employees and promote the advancement of women in USDA leadership roles. The liaison may also enter into a contract or cooperative agreement to conduct various research, training, and other activities with respect to women who are farmers and ranchers.
The liaison must submit an annual report to Congress on USDA grants, loans, loan guarantees, and cost-share programs for woman-owned agriculture operations.
In addition, the bill expands the USDA high-priority research and extension areas to authorize grants for developing and making widely available agriculture equipment and machinery that is ergonomically designed for use by women.
Further, USDA must give priority to certain loans or grants to address the availability, quality, or cost of childcare in an agricultural or rural community.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Apr 18, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
  2. Apr 3, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
  3. Apr 3, 2025 Introduced in House

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