Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Ensuring Disaster Recovery and Resilience for Specialty Crops Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
S. 4661 is known as the Ensuring Disaster Recovery and Resilience for Specialty Crops Act. The bill requires the Secretary to establish a framework to provide direct assistance to producers of specialty crops impacted by an adverse event, including an economic crisis or market disruption. It outlines how payments will be calculated based on the producer's sales for a calendar year or an average of consecutive calendar years before the adverse event, multiplied by a payment factor set by the Secretary. The legislation requires the Secretary to consider the higher value of specialty crops, greater input costs, and diverse types of legal entities and structures used by producers. It places a total limit on the amount of payments a person or legal entity may receive for any crop year, with an exception for those who derive a majority of their income from farming, ranching, or silviculture. Finally, the bill makes conforming amendments to the Food Security Act of 1985 regarding payment limitations.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Would farmers be better off under this?
Directly benefits specialty crop producers by providing structured permanent emergency disaster assistance.
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Supports rural communities by stabilizing agricultural production and farm income during crises.
- Scored +7
Does this invest in rural communities?
Supports agricultural stability and rural economies by establishing permanent disaster assistance for specialty crops.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Direct Financial Assistance for Producers: Section 2(a) establishes a framework to provide direct assistance to specialty crop producers whose production is impacted by an adverse event, such as an economic crisis or market disruption. This could benefit producers by helping them recover financial losses during tough times.
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Accountability for Crop Realities: Section 2(c) requires the Secretary to consider the higher value of specialty crops, the greater input costs required to grow them, and the diverse types of legal entities and structures used by producers. This ensures that the specific economic realities of growing specialty crops are factored into the assistance provided.
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Higher Payment Caps for Dedicated Farmers: Section 2(d)(1)(B) provides an exception to standard payment limits for individuals or legal entities where 75 percent or more of their average gross income derives from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities, setting a maximum payment amount of no less than $500,000. This helps ensure that full-time farmers can receive sufficient support when disaster strikes.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Payment Limitations: Section 2(d)(1)(A) places a cap on the total amount of payments a person or legal entity can receive for any crop year under the section, referencing limits in the Food Security Act of 1985. This restriction could limit the amount of financial relief available to larger operations or those with higher losses.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — Directly benefits specialty crop producers by providing structured permanent emergency disaster assistance. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Supports rural communities by stabilizing agricultural production and farm income during crises. Would business owners be better off under this? — Assists farm business owners and agricultural producers with financial recovery following adverse market and weather events.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Offers direct economic assistance and customized relief frameworks for specialty crop agricultural producers. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Provides financial stability and recovery support for specialty crop producers facing adverse market events.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Supports agricultural stability and rural economies by establishing permanent disaster assistance for specialty crops.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Grants the Secretary authority to establish disaster frameworks, calculate payments, and determine specialty crop factors.
- 6/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/2/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan