Rep. Jahana Hayes

Maddy summaryThe Fair Credit for Farmers Act of 2023 provides temporary financial relief to eligible farmers and ranchers facing economic hardship. It allows eligible borrowers to defer principal and interest payments on direct farm loans for two years, with repayment extended by at least two additional years, and sets interest rates to zero percent during this period. The bill also waives fees on guaranteed farm loans for historically underserved farmers and ranchers (including limited resource, socially disadvantaged, beginning, and veteran farmers) for two years. Additionally, it includes reforms to improve transparency in loan decisions and provides equitable relief for applicants denied loans due to errors by the Farm Service Agency.

Maddy summaryHR 5086, the COLAs Don’t Count Act of 2023, amends the Food and Nutrition Act to exclude certain cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) from counting as income for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility. Specifically, it removes increases from Social Security (Title II), Supplemental Security Income (Title XVI), Railroad Retirement, and Veterans benefits (38 U.S.C. §5312) from SNAP income calculations when determining household eligibility. This change directly affects SNAP recipients whose benefits include these COLAs, potentially allowing more households to qualify for assistance. The amendment takes effect October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThe Agricultural Worker Justice Act (HR 4978) improves working conditions for agricultural and meatpacking workers through several key provisions. It requires USDA to only purchase from entities paying prevailing wages (based on local rates and collective bargaining agreements), prohibits stock buybacks by USDA-funded companies, and creates a list of companies with labor violations that would be ineligible for USDA contracts. The bill establishes new safety standards for meatpacking plants including restrictions on line speeds (requiring safety inspections before increases), requirements for toilet facilities, and enhanced protections for workers reporting safety concerns. It also mandates a GAO report on racial disparities in meatpacking employment and authorizes $400 million for local food purchase programs. The bill directly affects meatpacking facilities, agricultural businesses receiving USDA funds, and the workers employed in these industries.

Maddy summaryThe EQIP Improvement Act of 2023 modifies payment rules for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which helps farmers and ranchers adopt conservation practices. It establishes tiered payment limits: 75% of costs for most practices, 40% for specific infrastructure like irrigation systems or waste facilities, and 100% coverage for income lost by producers. The bill also reduces a payment cap from $450,000 to $150,000 per producer and requires annual reports to Congress detailing program spending by practice type, state, and farm size. These changes directly affect agricultural producers participating in EQIP by altering their financial support for conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryHR 5246, the National Agricultural Crisis Hotline Act of 2023, creates a federally funded 24/7 crisis hotline specifically for farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and their families facing mental health or substance use challenges. The hotline must provide real-time voice and texting support, staffed by licensed professionals trained in agricultural mental health stress, with 24-hour follow-up calls and translation services. It requires collecting detailed call data and partnering with existing farm helplines, the 988 Suicide Lifeline, and USDA programs to connect callers to resources. The bill appropriates $19 million annually (starting 2024) for the hotline's operation, including $4 million yearly for the hotline itself, and mandates an annual effectiveness report to Congress. This directly addresses the documented crisis of elevated suicide rates among agricultural workers by expanding accessible, specialized mental health support.

Maddy summaryHR 4943, the Enabling Farmers to Benefit from Processing Nutrition Programs Act of 2023, simplifies how farmers and ranchers can join federal nutrition programs like SNAP, senior farmers' market programs, and WIC farmers' market initiatives. It requires the USDA to create either a single application for all programs or a system that automatically shares approved vendor information across programs, eliminating duplicate paperwork for farmers. The bill also mandates the use of standardized mobile technology, such as mobile apps or single-point equipment, to process benefits at farmers markets and direct-to-consumer sales. This directly benefits direct marketing farmers and ranchers by reducing administrative barriers to participating in these nutrition assistance programs.

Maddy summaryThe Rebuild Rural America Act of 2023 establishes a new Rural Innovation and Partnership Administration within the Department of Agriculture and creates a Rural Future Partnership Fund to provide block grants to rural communities. The bill requires rural areas to form "rural partnership councils" that develop comprehensive development plans covering infrastructure, housing, healthcare access, workforce development, and economic diversification. It authorizes $10 billion annually for fiscal years 2022-2026, with increased funding for high-poverty areas, and requires annual reporting on progress toward specific development goals. The legislation aims to strengthen rural communities through locally driven planning and federal investment in key areas of need.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Higher Education Act to require all U.S. colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to create detailed anti-harassment policies covering physical, online, and institution-sponsored settings. It mandates policies prohibiting harassment based on race, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, religion, and other protected characteristics, including harassment via institutional email, computers, or electronic messaging. The bill also establishes a $50 million annual grant program to fund colleges developing prevention programs, victim support services, and training for students and staff on recognizing and addressing harassment. These policies and grants must comply with existing civil rights laws like Title IX but add specific requirements for reporting and prevention.

Maddy summaryHR 5619, the Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2023, requires the Secretary of Agriculture to study how to directly certify military children for free or reduced-price school meals without additional applications. The bill directs a report by October 2024 evaluating options like using military housing allowance data and excluding non-service income from household calculations under existing school nutrition laws. This would affect children in households of active-duty military members, potentially streamlining eligibility for meals at schools. The bill itself is procedural, focusing on feasibility study rather than immediate policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens SNAP employment and training programs by expanding eligibility to include more job training options, such as vocational rehabilitation and refugee employment programs. It extends the maximum participation period from 90 to 180 days and increases funding authorization from $103.9 million to $119.9 million for state employment programs. States can now cover costs to help participants overcome barriers like transportation or childcare to stay in training. The changes directly affect SNAP recipients enrolled in state-administered job training programs and the state agencies that run them.