Bill > HR3685

This bill, known as the "Just USDA Standards and Transparency Act of 2025", seeks to enhance civil rights accountability and enforcement within the Department of Agriculture through several key provisions. First, it establishes new accountability measures for USDA employees, requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to take corrective action against officials who engage in discriminatory, retaliatory, or harassing behaviors, with potential disciplinary actions ranging from reprimands to removal from federal service. Second, the bill creates an improved Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, which will be responsible for ensuring civil rights compliance across all USDA agencies and programs, and establishes a new Office of Legal Advisor for Civil Rights to provide independent legal guidance on civil rights matters. Third, the bill introduces an Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson, an independent entity tasked with helping USDA program participants navigate civil rights reviews, promote awareness of appeals processes, and make recommendations about equitable program access. Additionally, the legislation provides mechanisms for equitable relief for farmers and program participants who have been unfairly treated and shifts the burden of proof in National Appeals Division hearings to the agency, requiring them to prove the validity of adverse decisions through substantial evidence. These comprehensive changes aim to address historical inequities and improve civil rights protections within the Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3685/all-info