{"bill":{"id":"119-hr-2396","congress":119,"type":"HR","number":2396,"title":"Honor Farmer Contracts Act","originChamber":"House","introducedDate":"2025-03-27","sponsors":[{"bioguideId":"V000136","fullName":"Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]","party":"D","state":"NM","district":2}],"cosponsorsCount":13,"latestAction":{"actionDate":"2025-04-18","text":"Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit."},"policyArea":"Agriculture and Food","subjects":[],"actions":[{"date":"2025-04-18","text":"Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.","type":"Committee","chamber":"House committee actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-03-27","text":"Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-03-27","text":"Introduced in House","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-03-27","text":"Introduced in House","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false}],"summary":"<p><strong>Honor Farmer Contracts Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to unfreeze funding for agreements and contracts and&nbsp;prohibits USDA from closing certain offices and service centers without notifying Congress in advance.</p><p>Specifically, USDA must (1) unfreeze funding for, and implement, all agreements and contracts entered into by USDA prior to the bill's enactment; and (2) pay all related past due amounts owed by USDA as rapidly as possible.</p><p>Further, the bill prohibits USDA from canceling a signed agreement or contract with a farmer or an entity providing assistance to farmers (unless the farmer or entity is not in compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract).</p><p>Finally, the bill prohibits USDA from closing Farm Service Agency county offices, Natural Resources Conservation Service field offices, or Rural Development Service Centers without providing written notice and a justification to Congress at least 60 days before the closure.</p>","updateDate":"2025-07-17T11:31:10Z"},"markets":[],"stateBills":[],"meta":{"sources":["congress.gov"],"latencyMs":517,"ts":"2026-04-19T12:28:22.599Z"},"nextActions":{"inspect":[],"related":[{"description":"Search related legislation","method":"GET","url":"/api/public/query-gov?q=Honor%20Farmer%20Contracts%20Act"}]}}