H.R. 8042

119 HR 8042 IH: Empowering Women in Agriculture Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-03-24
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 I
 119th CONGRESS  2d Session
 H. R. 8042
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 March 24, 2026
  Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick  (for herself,  Mr. Jackson of Illinois ,  Ms. Salinas , and  Ms. Brownley ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Agriculture
 A BILL
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to expand outreach and assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who are women, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Empowering Women in Agriculture Act  .
2.
Farming opportunities training and outreach
(a)
Definitions
Section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279(a) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (6), by striking  racial or ethnic prejudice  and inserting  racial, gender, or ethnic prejudice ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(8)
Women’s nonprofit organization
The term  women’s nonprofit organization  means an organization that—
(A)
was founded by, and for the purpose of serving, women;
(B)
is an organization described in  section 501(c)(3)  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; and
(C)
has been in continuous existence for at least 10 years.
 .
(b)
Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers
Section 2501(c)(1) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279(c)(1) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(H)
A women’s nonprofit organization.
 .
(c)
Funding
Section 2501(l) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279(l) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (2), by striking  fiscal years 2019 through 2023  and inserting  fiscal years 2021 through 2031 ; and
(2)
in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following:
(C)
Socially disadvantaged women farmers and ranchers
Not less that 10 percent of the amounts made available to carry out subsection (c) for a fiscal year shall be used to support programs and services that address the needs of women who are socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
 .