H.R. 8374

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8374 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8374

To strike references to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in 
Federal law, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 20, 2026

Mr. Harris of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Harris of Maryland, Ms. 
Boebert, Mr. Wied, Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Fine, Mr. Brecheen, Mr. Clyde, 
Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Perry, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Steube, Mr. Collins, 
Mr. Nehls, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Ms. Letlow, Mr. Burchett, Mr. Self, 
Mr. Roy, Mr. Norman, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. Van Orden, Mr. Cline, 
and Mr. Smith of Nebraska) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To strike references to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in 
Federal law, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Equal Treatment for Farmers Act''.

SEC. 2. STRIKING REFERENCES TO SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND 
RANCHERS IN FEDERAL LAW.

(a) Section 524(a)(3) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1524(a)(3)) is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraph (C); and
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (F) as 
subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively.
(b) Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 
U.S.C. 1627c) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking paragraph (11); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as 
paragraphs (11) and (12), respectively;
(2) in subsection (d)(5)(C)(i)--
(A) by striking subclause (II); and
(B) by redesignating subclauses (III) and (IV) as 
subclauses (II) and (III), respectively; and
(3) in subsection (i)(3)(A)(ii)(II)--
(A) in the subclause heading, by striking 
``Beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged'' and 
inserting ``Beginning and veteran''; and
(B) by striking ``beginning, veteran, and socially 
disadvantaged'' and inserting ``beginning and 
veteran''.
(c) The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 
et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 304 (7 U.S.C. 1924)--
(A) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``and 
socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers''; and
(B) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ``socially 
disadvantaged farmer or rancher or a'';
(2) in section 310B(e) (7 U.S.C. 1932(e))--
(A) by striking paragraph (11); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as 
paragraphs (11) and (12), respectively;
(3) in section 310E (7 U.S.C. 1935)--
(A) in subsection (d)(4)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by adding ``or'' 
at the end;
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B);
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
subparagraph (B); and
(iv) in subparagraph (B), as so 
redesignated, by striking ``; and'' at the end; 
and
(B) in subsection (e)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by adding ``and'' at 
the end;
(ii) by striking paragraph (2); and
(iii) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (2);
(4) in section 310F (7 U.S.C. 1936)--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``and 
socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher'';
(B) in subsection (a), by striking ``or socially 
disadvantaged farmer or rancher (as defined in section 
355(e)(2))'';
(C) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``or socially 
disadvantaged farmer or rancher'';
(D) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``or socially 
disadvantaged farmer or rancher''; and
(E) in subsection (f), by striking ``and Socially 
Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher'' each place it 
appears;
(5) in section 310I (7 U.S.C. 1936c)--
(A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (as defined in 
subsection (a) of section 2501 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 2279)) or''; and
(B) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
``(d) Preference.--In making loans under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities in States that 
have adopted a statute consisting of an enactment or adoption of the 
Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, as approved and recommended 
for enactment in all States by the National Conference of Commissioners 
on Uniform State Laws in 2010, that relend to owners of heirs property 
(as defined in that Act).'';
(6) in section 333B(c)(3)(A) (7 U.S.C. 1983b(c)(3)(A)), by 
striking ``, including, as appropriate, socially disadvantaged 
farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 355(e)(2))'';
(7) in section 352(c) (7 U.S.C. 2000(c)), by amending 
paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) The period of occupancy allowed the prior owner of homestead 
property under this section shall be the period requested in writing by 
the prior owner, except that such period shall not exceed 5 years.''; 
and
(8) by striking section 355 (7 U.S.C. 2003).
(d) Section 5413 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 
U.S.C. 2008x) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(C), by striking ``and socially 
disadvantaged''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ``and socially 
disadvantaged''.
(e) Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking paragraphs (5) and (6); and
(B) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph 
(5);
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers,'' and 
inserting ``veteran farmers and ranchers'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
``Socially Disadvantaged and'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in clause (i), by striking 
``socially disadvantaged farmers and 
ranchers and''; and
(II) in clause (ii), by striking 
``socially disadvantaged farmers or 
ranchers and'';
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (E) and (F); 
and
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as 
subparagraph (E);
(C) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by striking ``socially 
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and'';
(D) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
``socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers 
and'';
(ii) in subparagraph (D)--
(I) by striking clauses (iii) and 
(iv);
(II) by redesignating clauses (v) 
through (vii) as clauses (iii) through 
(v), respectively;
(III) in clause (iv), as so 
redesignated, by striking ``and 
socially disadvantaged farmers or 
ranchers''; and
(IV) in clause (v), as so 
redesignated, by striking ``clause 
(vi)'' and inserting ``clause (iv)''; 
and
(iii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
``socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers 
or''; and
(E) by striking paragraph (5);
(4) in subsection (f)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2);
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as 
paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively; and
(C) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by adding ``or'' 
at the end;
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
subparagraph (B);
(5) in subsection (g)(2), by striking ``socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers or'';
(6) by striking subsections (h) and (j);
(7) by redesignating subsections (i), (k), and (l) as 
subsections (h), (i), and (j), respectively;
(8) in subsection (i), as so redesignated--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``and members 
of socially disadvantaged groups''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and 
members of socially disadvantaged groups'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by adding ``and'' 
at the end;
(iii) by striking subparagraphs (C) and 
(E);
(iv) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
subparagraph (C); and
(v) in subparagraph (C), as so 
redesignated, by striking ``; and'' and 
inserting a period; and
(9) in subsection (j)(4)(A), as redesignated by paragraph 
(7)--
(A) in clause (i), by adding ``and'' at the end;
(B) by striking clause (ii); and
(C) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii).
(f) The Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 226B (7 U.S.C. 6934)--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (3);
(B) in subsection (b)(1)(B)--
(i) by striking clause (iii); and
(ii) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) 
as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively;
(C) in subsection (c)--
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ``veteran farmers and ranchers, and 
socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers'' 
and inserting ``and veteran farmers and 
ranchers'';
(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking 
``socially disadvantaged,''; and
(iii) in paragraph (5), by striking 
``veteran farmers or ranchers, and socially 
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers'' and 
inserting ``and veteran farmers or ranchers'';
(D) by striking subsection (d); and
(E) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as 
subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and
(2) by striking section 305 (7 U.S.C. 2279a).
(g) Section 201 of division HH of the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328; 136 Stat. 5971) is repealed.
(h) Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform 
Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) is amended--
(1) in subsection (k)(2), by striking ``, beginning, or 
socially disadvantaged'' and inserting ``or beginning''; and
(2) in subsection (l)(3)--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
``veteran, and socially disadvantaged'' and inserting 
``and veteran''; and
(B) by striking ``, beginning, and socially 
disadvantaged'' and inserting ``and beginning''.
(i) Section 405(c) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7625(c)) is amended by striking 
``socially disadvantaged farmers,''.
(j) Section 9011 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8111) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (9); and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(B), by amending clause (v) to 
read as follows:
``(v) the participation rate by beginning 
farmers or ranchers (as defined in accordance 
with section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1991(a)));''; and
(B) in paragraph (5), by amending subparagraph (B) 
to read as follows:
``(B) Amount of establishment payments.--The amount 
of an establishment payment under this subsection shall 
be not more than 50 percent of the costs of 
establishing an eligible perennial crop covered by the 
contract but not to exceed $500 per acre, including--
``(i) the cost of seeds and stock for 
perennials;
``(ii) the cost of planting the perennial 
crop, as determined by the Secretary; and
``(iii) in the case of nonindustrial 
private forestland, the costs of site 
preparation and tree planting.''.
(k) The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8701 
et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 1101(d) (7 U.S.C. 8711(d)), by amending 
paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a farm 
owned by a limited resource farmer or rancher, as defined by 
the Secretary.''; and
(2) in section 1302(d) (7 U.S.C. 8752(d)), by amending 
paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a farm 
owned by a limited resource farmer or rancher, as defined by 
the Secretary.''.
(l) The Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9001 et seq.) is 
amended--
(1) in section 1114(d)(2) (7 U.S.C. 9014(d)(2))--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) 
as subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively;
(2) in section 1404(c)(4) (7 U.S.C. 9054(c)(4)), by 
striking ``veteran, or socially disadvantaged'' and inserting 
``or veteran''; and
(3) in section 1501(a)(1)(A) (7 U.S.C. 9081(a)(1)(A))--
(A) in clause (i), by adding ``or'' at the end;
(B) by striking clause (ii); and
(C) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii).
(m) Subclause (III) of section 8(b)(5)(B)(iii) of the Soil 
Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(b)(5)(B)(iii)) 
is amended to read as follows:
``(III) Nominations.--To be 
eligible for nomination and election to 
the applicable county, area, or local 
committee, as determined by the 
Secretary, an agricultural producer 
shall be located within the area under 
the jurisdiction of a county, area, or 
local committee, and participate or 
cooperate in programs administered 
within that area.''.
(n) Section 402A(b) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 2202a(b)) is amended by striking ``, a socially disadvantaged 
farmer or rancher (as defined in subsection (a) of section 2501 of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
2279),''.
(o) Section 623 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 
1985 note) is repealed.
(p) The Food Security Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-198; 99 Stat. 
1504) is amended--
(1) in section 1201(a) (16 U.S.C. 3801(a))--
(A) by striking paragraph (23); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (24) through (27) 
as paragraphs (23) through (26), respectively;
(2) in section 1231C(b)(3)(E) (16 U.S.C. 3831c(b)(3)(E))--
(A) in the subparagraph heading, by striking 
``socially disadvantaged,'';
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 
``socially disadvantaged,''; and
(C) in clause (i)(II), by striking ``socially 
disadvantaged,'';
(3) in section 1240B(d)(4)(A) (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-
2(d)(4)(A)), by striking ``socially disadvantaged farmer or 
rancher,'';
(4) in section 1241(h) (16 U.S.C. 3841(h)), by amending 
paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) Assistance.--
``(A) Fiscal years 2009 through 2018.--Of the funds 
made available for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
2018 to carry out the environmental quality incentives 
program and the acres made available for each of such 
fiscal years to carry out the conservation stewardship 
program, the Secretary shall use, to the maximum extent 
practicable, 5 percent to assist beginning farmers or 
ranchers.
``(B) Fiscal years 2019 through 2031.--Of the funds 
made available for each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2031 to carry out the environmental quality incentives 
program under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D 
and the conservation stewardship program under 
subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D, the Secretary 
shall use, to the maximum extent practicable, 5 percent 
to assist beginning farmers or ranchers.''; and
(5) in section 1271E(d) (16 U.S.C. 3871e(d)), by striking 
``socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers,''.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON RACIAL AND GENDER PREFERENCES IN USDA PROGRAMS.

Notwithstanding any other law, no program of the Department of 
Agriculture may provide any preference, priority consideration, or 
enhanced benefits to any individual or entity on the basis of race or 
gender.
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