Bill > HR3568

This bill, known as the AG RESEARCH Act, aims to address the significant deferred maintenance challenges facing agricultural research facilities in the United States. The bill highlights the critical economic importance of agriculture, which contributes over $1.1 trillion to the US GDP and provides 22.2 million jobs, while noting that maintenance needs at agricultural schools have grown from $8.4 billion in 2015 to $11.5 billion in 2021. To address these infrastructure challenges, the bill establishes a competitive grant program through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to help agricultural research facilities construct, alter, modernize, renovate, or acquire research facilities and equipment. The grant program includes several key provisions: the Secretary can provide up to 100% federal funding on a case-by-case basis, grants will be distributed to ensure geographic equity, diversity of institutions, and areas of study, and no more than 20% of funds can be awarded to projects in a single state. The bill provides mandatory funding of $500 million annually from 2025 to 2029, with an additional potential authorization of up to $1 billion per year for fiscal years 2026-2030 to support agricultural research facility improvements and ensure the United States remains globally competitive in agricultural research.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3568/all-info