Voice for Farm Workers Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 5301 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5301

To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to reauthorize the position of Farmworker Coordinator.

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 6, 2026

Mr. Padilla (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Markey, Mr. Booker, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. Lujan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

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A BILL

To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to reauthorize the position of Farmworker Coordinator.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Voice for Farm Workers Act''.

SEC. 2. FARMWORKER COORDINATOR.

Section 226B(f) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6934(f)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (2)-- (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``organizations'' and inserting ``organizations, institutions of higher education, and local educational agencies''; (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``institutions on research, program improvements, or agricultural education opportunities'' and inserting ``institutions or community-based nonprofit organizations on research, program improvements, agricultural education opportunities, or technical skills and job training programs''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(G) Assessing the effectiveness with respect to farmworkers of Department outreach programs. ``(H) Developing and implementing a plan to coordinate outreach activities and services provided by the Department with respect to farmworkers. ``(I) Collaborating with and providing input on programmatic and policy decisions relating to farmworkers to the agencies and offices of the Department, including-- ``(i) the Farm Service Agency; ``(ii) the Natural Resources Conservation Service; ``(iii) the rural development mission area; ``(iv) the National Institute of Food and Agriculture; ``(v) the Food and Nutrition Service; ``(vi) the Agricultural Marketing Service; ``(vii) the Forest Service; ``(viii) the National Agricultural Statistics Service; and ``(ix) any other agency or office that the Coordinator determines to be appropriate. ``(J) Communicating to employers of farmworkers, and publicizing on the website of the Department, information about Federal programs for which the employees of those employers may be eligible. ``(K) Identifying research priorities and evaluating programs to strengthen workforce stability, agricultural productivity, and rural economic resilience to inform the research activities of the Department relating to farmworkers. ``(L) Measuring and analyzing outcomes of the programs and activities of the Department on farmworkers. ``(M) Recommending new initiatives and programs to the Secretary. ``(N) Carrying out any other related duties that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.''; (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: ``(3) Staff.--The Secretary, acting through the Coordinator, shall employ such staff as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the duties described in paragraph (2).''; and (4) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), in subparagraph (B), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2031''. <all>