H.R. 6287

119 HR 6287 IH: Rural Energy for America Program Modernization Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-11-21
 text/xml
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 6287  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   November 21, 2025   Mr. Vindman  (for himself and  Mr. Valadao ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Agriculture    A BILL
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to improve the Rural Energy for America Program, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Rural Energy for America Program Modernization Act of 2025   or the   REAP Modernization Act of 2025  .
2.
Rural Energy for America Program
(a)
In general
Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8107 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(B)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking  The Secretary  and inserting the following:
(1)
In general
The Secretary
 ;
(C)
in paragraph (1) (as so designated), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by inserting  (referred to in this section as the  Program )  after  Program ; and
(D)
by adding at the end the following:
(2)
Climate benefits
In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of carrying out projects funded by grants and other financial assistance under the Program.
 ;
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (D), by striking  and  at the end;
(ii)
by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (G); and
(iii)
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
(E)
a producer cooperative;
(F)
a nongovernmental organization; and
 ;
(B)
in paragraph (3)—
(i)
in subparagraph (E), by striking  and  at the end;
(ii)
in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following:
(G)
the potential of the proposed program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide other climate benefits.
 ; and
(C)
in paragraph (4)—
(i)
in subparagraph (B), by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(ii)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(iii)
in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking  A recipient  and inserting the following:
(A)
In general
A recipient
 ; and
(iv)
by adding at the end the following:
(B)
Grant options
A grant awarded under paragraph (1) may be used to carry out 1 or more of the activities described in subparagraph (A).
 ;
(3)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)(A), by adding after and below the end the following:
  The Secretary may, on a limited case-by-case basis, provide financial assistance described in this subparagraph to agricultural producer cooperatives and rural electric cooperatives that do not otherwise qualify for the assistance.  ;
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (F), by striking  and  at the end;
(ii)
by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (H); and
(iii)
by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:
(G)
the potential of the renewable energy system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and result in other climate benefits; and
 ; and
(C)
in paragraph (3)(A), by striking  25 percent  and inserting  50 percent ;
(4)
by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (e), (f), and (i), respectively;
(5)
by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
(d)
Streamlined application process
The Secretary shall develop a streamlined application process, including within each tier described in subsection (c)(4), under which an entity may apply for a grant under subsection (b), financial assistance under subsection (c), or a bundled application for a project with components eligible under clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (c)(1)(A).
 ;
(6)
in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)—
(A)
in the subsection heading, by striking
Outreach   and inserting
Outreach, technical assistance, and education  ;
(B)
by striking  that adequate  and inserting the following:
that—
(1)
adequate
 ;
(C)
in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(D)
by adding at the end the following:
(2)
technical assistance is provided to entities seeking to apply for a grant or financial assistance under the Program; and
(3)
outreach, technical assistance, and education is provided to recipients of grants and other financial assistance under the Program relating to integrating renewable energy projects on land shared with crops or livestock.
 ;
(7)
in subsection (f) (as so redesignated), in paragraph (1), by striking  $20,000  and inserting  $50,000 ;
(8)
by inserting after subsection (f) (as so redesignated) the following:
(g)
Study
(1)
Definition of dual-use energy system
In this subsection, the term  dual-use energy system  means a system under which renewable energy production and agricultural production, including crop or animal production, occur together on the same piece of land.
(2)
Study
The Secretary shall carry out a study on dual-use energy systems.
(3)
Report
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the  REAP Modernization Act of 2025 , the Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available online, a report on the results of the study carried out under paragraph (2), which shall include a recommendation as to whether the scope of grants and other financial assistance under the Program should be expanded to cover projects that generate more energy without significantly impacting farm operations or leading to the conversion of existing farm land.
(h)
Energy generated
In the case of a project funded by a grant or other financial assistance provided under the Program that takes place on a property on which a residence is closely associated with and shares an energy metering device with an agricultural operation or rural small business to be served by the project, there shall not be any requirement imposed relating to the quantity of energy generated by the project that must be used by the agricultural operation or rural small business.
 ; and
(9)
in subsection (i) (as so redesignated), by adding at the end the following:
(4)
Outreach, technical assistance, and education
Of the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not more than 8 percent to carry out subsection (e).
(5)
Reserve fund
(A)
In general
There is established a reserve fund (referred to in this paragraph as the  reserve fund ), into which, each fiscal year, not less than 15 percent of the funds made available under paragraphs (1) and (3) to carry out this section for that fiscal year shall be transferred.
(B)
Use of reserve fund
After all other funds for the Program are obligated for a fiscal year, the Secretary may use amounts in the reserve fund to provide grants and other financial assistance under the Program for projects using underutilized renewable energy technologies.
(C)
Unused funds
If there are remaining funds in the reserve fund at the end of a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use those remaining funds to provide grants and other financial assistance under the Program without regard to whether the grants or financial assistance relate to underutilized renewable energy technologies.
 .
(b)
Conforming amendments
Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8107 ) is amended by striking  subsection (f)  each place it appears and inserting  subsection (i) .