This legislation amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to create a new program for emergency assistance for farmworkers . It mandates the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Under Secretary for Rural Development, to provide grants to eligible farmworker organizations during periods of covered disasters. A covered disaster is broadly defined to include adverse weather events such as droughts, floods, and wildfires, as well as unexpected health crises like pandemics, and any other event causing farmworkers to lose income or be unable to work. Funds received by these organizations can be used for various purposes, including providing direct financial relief to farmworkers, building capacity for emergency response, and fostering resiliency within farmworker communities. Eligible organizations are either farmworker membership-based groups or 501(c)(3) non-profits with experience in supporting migrant or seasonal farmworkers. The Secretary is also required to develop and implement a promotional plan for the grant program and to consult with eligible farmworker organizations throughout its execution.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Agriculture and Food
Disaster Relief for Farmworkers Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-1661| Senate
| Updated: 5/7/2025
This legislation amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to create a new program for emergency assistance for farmworkers . It mandates the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Under Secretary for Rural Development, to provide grants to eligible farmworker organizations during periods of covered disasters. A covered disaster is broadly defined to include adverse weather events such as droughts, floods, and wildfires, as well as unexpected health crises like pandemics, and any other event causing farmworkers to lose income or be unable to work. Funds received by these organizations can be used for various purposes, including providing direct financial relief to farmworkers, building capacity for emergency response, and fostering resiliency within farmworker communities. Eligible organizations are either farmworker membership-based groups or 501(c)(3) non-profits with experience in supporting migrant or seasonal farmworkers. The Secretary is also required to develop and implement a promotional plan for the grant program and to consult with eligible farmworker organizations throughout its execution.