Bill > HR4529

This bill aims to increase market access and support for Black farmers and other socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through several key provisions. First, it establishes a competitive grant program managed by the Secretary of Agriculture to support food hubs (businesses that help aggregate and distribute agricultural products) designed to increase market opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers. Eligible entities can use these grants for purchasing land, constructing facilities, buying equipment, covering operating expenses, and providing marketing services for agricultural products. The bill also creates a tax credit for businesses that purchase agricultural products from these food hubs, offering a 25 percent credit on qualified expenses. Additionally, the bill introduces several accountability and support measures for the Department of Agriculture, including establishing a Civil Rights Ombudsperson to help farmers navigate civil rights processes, ensuring that USDA employees can be disciplined for discriminatory actions, and changing the burden of proof in appeals hearings to require the agency to prove the validity of adverse decisions. The legislation seeks to address historical inequities in agricultural support and market access for farmers of color by providing targeted financial and systemic support.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4529/all-info