Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act

COWS Act of 2026

Emergency Mountain Pine Beetle Response and Coordination Act

RANCH Act

Voice for Farm Workers Act

Tick-Borne Livestock Disease Research Prioritization Act

REACH Our Tribes Act

Colonel Gary LaGrange AgVets Act of 2026

Colonel Gary LaGrange AgVets Act of 2026 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to provide competitive grants to eligible entities for the purpose of establishing and enhancing farming and ranching opportunities for veterans through education and training services. Entities eligible for the grants include cooperative extension services, land-grant colleges and universities, non-land-grant colleges of agriculture, state departments of agriculture, and nonprofit organizations.

American Food for American Schools Act of 2026

Schools that participate in the federal lunch program would have to publicly post any waivers they receive that allow them to buy food from non-American sources instead of following the "Buy American" requirement. This transparency measure would let parents, taxpayers, and community members see when and why schools decide to purchase foreign food products rather than domestic ones. The change affects school districts across the country that serve meals to millions of students daily.

FORK Act of 2026

The proposal would create a test program allowing schools to use mobile vehicles to deliver free meals to children during summer months when school is not in session, helping ensure low-income students have access to nutrition when they're not eating at school cafeterias. The pilot program would test different approaches to reaching kids in their communities during the summer break. This affects school districts, students from low-income families, and nutrition programs that currently serve meals primarily during the school year.

Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act

Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act This bill includes combatting the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) as a Department of Agriculture (USDA) high-priority research and extension area and reauthorizes other USDA research and extension initiatives. The bill specifically allows grants for developing and disseminating research-based tools and treatments to combat the spotted lanternfly, which is an invasive species native to Asia that feeds on a wide range of crops and plants (e.g., grapes, apples, hops, walnuts, and hardwood trees). Further, the bill reauthorizes USDA grants to support competitive specialized research and extension activities, including high-priority areas, through FY2028. The bill also specifically reauthorizes through FY2028 the Pulse Crop Health Initiative; the Comprehensive Food Safety Training Network; pollinator protection research and extension grants; increased USDA capacity and infrastructure to address and conduct research on colony collapse disorder and other pollinator issues; and a USDA-conducted nationwide honey bee pest, pathogen, health, and population status surveillance program.

CFTC Whistleblower Protection and Program Improvement Act of 2026

The bill would extend how long the Commodity Futures Trading Commission can use money set aside for customer education programs, strengthen legal protections for people who report wrongdoing in the commodities markets, and require that whistleblowers be clearly informed of their rights when they come forward. These changes would make it safer for workers and traders to report fraud or illegal activity without fear of losing their jobs or facing retaliation from their employers.

Farmers Lifeline Options for Overcoming Disasters (FLOOD) Act

The bill would allow the emergency watershed program, which helps communities repair damage from floods and other water-related disasters, to participate in a regional conservation partnership program that brings together government agencies, nonprofits, and landowners to work on environmental projects together. This change would give farmers, ranchers, and rural communities access to additional funding and resources for watershed restoration and disaster recovery efforts. The proposal is currently under review by the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Tribal Access to Nutrition Assistance Act of 2026

The proposal would change federal food assistance rules to let people on Indian reservations receive benefits from both the food stamp program (SNAP) and the federal food distribution program at the same time, instead of having to choose one or the other. Currently, people can only be enrolled in one program, so this change would give Native American families more flexibility in how they get food assistance. The bill is still in early stages and has been sent to the Senate Agriculture Committee for review.

Seeds and Breeds for the Future Act

The bill would expand federal funding and support for research into new plant varieties and animal breeds, helping farmers and agricultural companies develop and bring improved crops and livestock to market more quickly. It updates existing agriculture research laws to make it easier for scientists and businesses to work together on developing better plants and animals for farming. The changes would affect agricultural researchers, farmers, seed companies, and livestock producers across the country.

AG2PI Act of 2026

Genome to Phenome Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026 or the AG2PI Act of 2026 This bill reauthorizes the Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative (AG2PI) of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture through FY2031. The AG2PI competitive grant program seeks to (1) expand knowledge concerning genomes and phenomes of crops and animals that are of importance to the U.S. agriculture sector, and (2) support and coordinate research.

Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2026

The legislation would give the federal government stronger tools to prevent large companies from dominating the food and agriculture industry, potentially blocking mergers or breaking up existing companies that reduce competition and harm farmers or consumers. The bill aims to address concerns that a few massive corporations control too much of the market for seeds, meat processing, grain handling, and other agricultural sectors, which can lead to higher prices for shoppers and lower prices paid to farmers. The measure is currently under review by the Senate Agriculture Committee.

A resolution commemorating the 70th anniversary of the United States Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.

This resolution honors the 70-year history of a specialized research center that studies and manages forests in Pacific Island territories. The institute helps protect and sustainably manage these unique island ecosystems while supporting local communities that depend on forest resources. The recognition acknowledges the center's contributions to forestry science and conservation in the Pacific region.

Opening Programs to Organic Farms Act

The Agriculture Department would be required to study and report back to Congress about what obstacles prevent organic farmers and farms considering switching to organic methods from fully participating in USDA programs. The report would identify specific barriers these farms face, helping lawmakers understand what changes might be needed to make it easier for farmers to adopt or maintain organic practices. This affects organic farmers, conventional farmers interested in transitioning, and the USDA programs designed to support agricultural operations.

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 This act revises the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to expand eligibility for payments to agricultural producers and owners of forest land impacted by natural disasters. The act also provides additional options to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures. The act expands advance ECP payments to include the replacement, repair, or restoration of farmland or conservation structures requiring an immediate response. Producers may receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for 75% of the cost of the replacement and 50% of the cost of the repair or restoration. Current law limits advance payments to 25% of the cost of the repair or replacement of fencing. Under EFRP, the act allows owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by a natural disaster to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments for up to 75% of the cost of the emergency measures. Currently, advance payments are not available under the program. ECP and EFRP recipients must use the funds within 180 days after the funds are disbursed. This provides additional time to ECP recipients who currently must use the funds within 60 days. The act also expands eligibility for payments under the programs to include emergency measures to address damages caused by (1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes; and (2) a wildfire that is caused by the federal government.