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MORE USDA Grants Act
1/23/2024, 2:00 PM
Summary of Bill HR 3595
Specifically, the MORE USDA Grants Act aims to increase the availability of grants for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural producers. These grants can be used for a variety of purposes, such as improving infrastructure, implementing conservation practices, and expanding access to markets.
Additionally, the bill seeks to streamline the application process for USDA grants, making it easier for individuals and organizations to access these funds. This is intended to help support the growth and sustainability of the agricultural industry in the United States. Overall, the MORE USDA Grants Act is focused on providing additional support and resources to the USDA in order to help farmers and ranchers thrive. It is currently being debated in Congress, and its ultimate fate will depend on the outcome of these discussions.
Congressional Summary of HR 3595
More Opportunities for Rural Economies from USDA Grants Act or the MORE USDA Grants Act
This bill revises the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to high-density public land counties and any units of tribal or local governments within such counties. A high-density public land county is a county that has a population of not more than 100,000 people and in which more than 50% of the land is owned or managed by the federal government.
Any requirement for local matching funds under a qualifying grant program must be reduced by 50% with respect to such jurisdictions.
On request, USDA must provide additional technical assistance to such jurisdictions before and during the annual application period for each qualifying grant program.
USDA must also prioritize grant applications from such jurisdictions that have not received support under the qualifying grant program during the 10-year period preceding the date of the application.
