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HR 5450 115th Congress House Agriculture and Food Agricultural education Farmland Government lending and loan guarantees Land use and conservation Puerto Rico

To increase the access of small farmers in Puerto Rico to Federal agriculture programs, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 10, 2018 Introduced by: Soto, Darren Democratic · Florida See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 30, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
Apr 12, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
Apr 12, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Apr 10, 2018
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 10, 2018
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Advocacy and Outreach to increase the access of small farmers who grow specialty crops in Puerto Rico to loans under several USDA programs. (Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture.) The programs covered by the bill include microloan programs, programs for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, programs for beginning farmers, and the emergency loan program.

The USDA Office of Advocacy and Outreach must also carry out a training program to teach best farming practices to small farmers in Puerto Rico.

The Department of the Interior must develop a program to allow small farmers to farm on federal land in Puerto Rico if: (1) the land is not environmentally sensitive, (2) farming on the land will not harm endangered native species or natural habitats, and (3) the land is suitable for farming.

What's happening now April 30, 2018

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5