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

Summary

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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 10 April 2018

   Introduced

   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.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 10 April 2018

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 10 April 2018

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 12 April 2018

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

   Source: Committee

5. 30 April 2018

   Referred

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

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 10 April 2018 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 10 April 2018

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 10 April 2018

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 10 April 2018

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] · D · Sponsor
• · hsag00 · Standing
• · hsii00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.