United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 343 (108th)
Family Farmers and Family Fishermen Protection Act of 2003
Introduced
27 January 2003
Last action
6 March 2003 · Referred
Status
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
Sponsors
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Rep. Delahunt, Bill [D-MA-10], Rep. Smith, Nick [R-MI-7], JOHN CONYERS, Rep. Holden, Tim [D-PA-17], Rep. Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH-11], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Rep. Frost, Martin [D-TX-24], Rep. Green, Mark [R-WI-8], Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Gordon, Bart [D-TN-6], Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51], Rep. Allen, Thomas H. [D-ME-1], Del. Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [D-GU-At Large], Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23], Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2], Del. Christensen, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large]
Subjects
Agriculture
Source updated
18 August 2025
Summary
Family Farmers and Family Fishermen Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Bankruptcy Code to reenact Chapter 12, Adjustment of Debts of a Family Farmer with Regular Annual Income (thus reinstating permanently family farmer bankruptcy relief). Provides periodic adjustments for inflation of the debt limit for family farmers. Cites circumstances under which the claim of a governmental unit that arises from the disposition of a farm asset used in the debtor's farming operation shall be treated as an unsecured claim not entitled to priority. Increases from $1.5 million to $3.237 million the maximum aggregate debt that permits a farming operation to qualify as a family farming operation for debt adjustment purposes. Decreases from 80 percent to 50 percent the minimum percentage of aggregate, noncontingent liquidated debts arising out of such farming operation. Repeals the requirement that a family farmer and spouse receive over 50 percent of income from farming operations in the year before a bankruptcy petition is filed. Prohibits: (1) retroactive assessment of disposable income; and (2) post-confirmation modification of a bankruptcy plan that would increase the amount of payments that were due before such modification. Requires debtor's consent for post-confirmation increase in payments. Extends Chapter 12 coverage to family fishermen whose aggregate debts do not exceed $1.5 million, of which at least 80 percent of aggregate noncontingent, liquidated debts arise out of a commercial fishing operation.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
27 January 2003
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
27 January 2003
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
27 January 2003
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
6 March 2003
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
Source: Committee
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Introduced in House · 27 January 2003 · Official file
Documents
3 official files
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 27 January 2003
Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 27 January 2003
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 27 January 2003
Sponsors
- Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Delahunt, Bill [D-MA-10] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Smith, Nick [R-MI-7] · R · Cosponsor
- JOHN CONYERS · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Holden, Tim [D-PA-17] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH-11] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] · I · Cosponsor
- Rep. Frost, Martin [D-TX-24] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Green, Mark [R-WI-8] · R · Cosponsor
- Raúl Grijalva · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Gordon, Bart [D-TN-6] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Allen, Thomas H. [D-ME-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Del. Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [D-GU-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23] · R · Cosponsor
- Rosa DeLauro · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2] · D · Cosponsor
- Del. Christensen, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
- · hsju00 · Standing
Related records
No cross-record relationships stored yet.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/343
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/108/hr/343
- us · 108-hr-343 · source updated 18 August 2025