118th Congress Agriculture and Food
H.R. 1167: Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2023
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2023
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide a variety of assistance to address historical discrimination and disparities in the agricultural sector.
For example, the bill establishes an equity commission in USDA to examine discrimination by the agency against Black farmers and ranchers and recommend actions to end the systematic disparities in the treatment of Black farmers and ranchers.
Read the full summary
USDA must also establish a Farm Conservation Corps to provide young adults who are from socially disadvantaged groups with the skills necessary to pursue careers in farming and ranching.
The bill provides funding for historically Black colleges and universities to commence and expand courses of study that are focused on careers in agriculture or related disciplines. The bill also increases the authorization of appropriations for a program to resolve issues relating to ownership and succession on farmland. Additionally, it expands credit assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
Further, the bill (1) establishes that a minimum of 50% of a covered packer's (not including a packer that owns only one livestock processing plant) daily volume of livestock slaughter must be purchased through spot market sales from nonaffiliated producers; (2) increases funding for the Local Agriculture Market Program; and (3) gives priority to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers for conservation technical assistance, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Rural Energy for America Program.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Sanford Bishop D-GAOriginal
- Earl Blumenauer D-OROriginal
- Cori Bush D-MOOriginal
- Joyce Beatty D-OHOriginal
- Lisa Blunt Rochester D-DEOriginal
- André Carson D-INOriginal
- Jahana Hayes D-CTOriginal
- Ro Khanna D-CAOriginal
- Barbara Lee D-CAOriginal
- Eleanor Norton D-DCOriginal
- Melanie Stansbury D-NMOriginal
- Bennie Thompson D-MSOriginal
- Marilyn Strickland D-WA
- Steve Cohen D-TN
- Jennifer McClellan D-VA
- James McGovern D-MA
- Maxine Waters D-CA
- Ann Kuster D-NH
- Rashida Tlaib D-MI
- Nicole (Nikki) Budzinski D-IL
- Paul Tonko D-NY
- Glenn Ivey D-MD
- Summer Lee D-PA
- Donald Beyer D-VA
- Troy Carter D-LA
- Eric Sorensen D-IL
- Jonathan Jackson D-IL
- Robin Kelly D-IL
- Jesús García D-IL
- Chellie Pingree D-ME
- Sean Casten D-IL
- Chris Deluzio D-PA
- Delia Ramirez D-IL
- Jasmine Crockett D-TX
- Shontel Brown D-OH
Who scored on this bill
- 1Alma Adams SponsorIntroduced, reached a cosponsor milestone2 events+6
See all scorers and every scoring event
Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
History
- Introduced in the House by Alma Adams.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, the Judiciary, and the Budget, 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.


