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119-hr-7142119th CongressWALLET

ACE Agriculture Act

Sponsored By: Representative Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

In Committee

Summary

Makes AGARDA a permanent, better-funded USDA research authority focused on advanced agtech, water conservation, and climate resilience. This bill would expand AGARDA’s mission, double its annual funding ceiling, and move oversight so the Director reports to the Department’s Chief Scientist.

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  • Researchers and technology developers: Would give steady, long-term support to high-risk, high-reward agricultural research and product development, explicitly funding water conservation technologies and tools to fight plant and animal diseases. It authorizes up to $100.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2032.
  • Farmers and rural communities: Would prioritize technologies that reduce water use, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve resilience to drought, pests, and extreme weather, which could speed the availability of practical tools on farms.
  • USDA organization and staffing: Would place AGARDA under the Chief Scientist, require a qualified in-house staff, allow targeted hiring of experts under existing authorities, and permit use of other non-Commodity Credit Corporation funds to carry out the program.

*Would raise the program’s annual authorized funding to $100.0 million for FY2027–2032, increasing federal spending authorization compared with the prior $50.0 million level.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More agricultural research grants for farms

If enacted, this bill would make the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority permanent and remove its "pilot" label. It would broaden AGARDA’s mission to include water conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, export competitiveness, and resilience to drought, pests, and disease. The bill would authorize $100,000,000 per year for AGARDA for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 and would let the Secretary use other available funds to carry out the program, but it would not allow use of Commodity Credit Corporation funds. The AGARDA Director would report to the USDA Chief Scientist, must keep qualified staff, and the Secretary could appoint highly qualified scientists under specific hiring rules. Project selection rules would add "economic cost" alongside financial uncertainty when choosing awards.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2026

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 4/2/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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