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House Introduces the Farmer Recovery Opportunity and Support for Temperatures Relief Act
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Key points
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer introduced H.R. 10928 to authorize $3.5 billion for USDA freeze relief block grants.
- The legislation covers crop production, quality, revenue, prevented planting, and damaged vines or trees from April 2026 freezes.
- The USDA must deliver assistance to states within 120 days of fund availability and issue regular implementation reports.
NewsWK — Federal lawmakers are moving to support agricultural producers affected by damaging spring frost events across the nation. Representative Josh Gottheimer introduced new legislation to provide targeted assistance for sudden weather losses.
How Would HR 10928 Provide Relief for Agricultural Losses?
The proposed legislation authorizes $3.5 billion for fiscal year 2027 to establish farmer freeze relief block grants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will distribute these emergency funds to states for local recovery following damaging April 2026 freeze events. State agencies will manage the distribution to help growers offset severe financial hardship.
What Losses Does the USDA Freeze Crop Loss Bill Cover?
The USDA freeze crop loss bill addresses broad damage categories to ensure comprehensive relief for affected growers. Funding specifically covers severe losses in crop production, overall crop quality, direct revenue, and prevented planting. Additionally, the federal grant funds cover physical damage to agricultural assets like destroyed trees, bushes, and vines.
What Is the Timeline for Block Grant Implementation?
The Secretary of Agriculture must deliver direct funding to states within 120 days after congressional appropriations become available. Furthermore, the USDA must submit an initial implementation report to the House and Senate agriculture committees within 120 days. The agency will continue submitting quarterly progress reports until states expend all program funds.
Who Is Sponsoring the Farmer Recovery Opportunity and Support for Temperatures Relief Act?
Representative Josh Gottheimer sponsored the legislation on October 29, 2026, during the 119th Congress. Representative Ben Cline and Representative Sarah McBride signed on as initial bipartisan cosponsors of the measure. House leaders referred the bill to the House Committee on Agriculture for initial review.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
Related: Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act Introduced in Congress
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