H.R. 3656 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Agriculture, May 29, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryWaives specialty crop research matching funds
Right now, when farmers and researchers get federal grants to study specialty crops like fruits and vegetables, they have to chip in their own money to match what the government gives them. This bill would let the Department of Agriculture skip that matching funds requirement when it decides to, making it easier for organizations to access research money without having to come up with extra funding on their own.
How it affects you
If you're involved in specialty crop farming or agricultural research, this could make federal grant money more accessible to your organization or business. Smaller operations that struggle to find matching funds might have better chances of getting research support. For most other people, the direct effect isn't clear from the summary.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, May 29, 2025)
This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to waive the matching funds requirement for grants under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Currently, entities that receive grants under the initiative must provide nonfederal matching funds (including funds from an agricultural promotion, research, and information program) equal to not less than the amount of the grant.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 3656
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to waive the matching funds requirement under the specialty crop research initiative, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA-8) · Introduced May 29, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 29, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.”