Office of the Ombudsman

Title III of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 2231b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 310. Office of the Ombudsman (a) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish within the Department an Office of the Ombudsman (in this section referred to as the Office). The Office shall be independent of Department agencies and offices. (b) Ombudsman The Office shall be headed by an Ombudsman that shall— (1) be considered a senior official; and (2) have a background in civil rights enforcement. (c) Functions The functions of the Office shall be to— (1) assist producers and other customers of Department programs in navigating the civil rights review process; (2) ensure that participants (as defined in section 271) are aware of the appeals process under subtitle H of title II, including informal hearings under section 275; (3) promote awareness of the Office and its responsibilities among producers and other customers of Department programs; and (4) raise issues and concerns with respect to, and make recommendations to the Secretary about, equitable access or implementation of Department programs. (d) Access to information The Secretary shall establish procedures to provide the Ombudsman access to all departmental records necessary to execute the functions of the Office under subsection (d) not later than 60 days after a request from the Ombudsman for such information. (e) Effect on procedures for grievances, appeals, or administrative matters The establishment of the Office shall not affect any procedures for grievances, appeals, or administrative matters in any other provision of this Act, any other provision of law, or any other Federal regulation. (f) Annual report Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Ombudsman shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on— (1) the activities carried out by the Office; and (2) the findings and recommendation of the Office with respect to equitable access or implementation of Department programs. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031..