§5177a Emergency Grants to Assist Low-income Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture can give grants to public agencies or to private, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) groups that have experience helping low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers in emergencies. Grants can be made when the Secretary finds a local, State, or national emergency or disaster caused these workers to lose income, be unable to work, or to stay or return home. Grants may fund any emergency help the Secretary thinks is needed. A "low-income migrant or seasonal farmworker" is someone who did paid farm work during any consecutive 12-month period within the last 24 months, who got at least one-half of their income or worked at least one-half of their time in farm work, and whose family income in that 12-month period was at or below the higher of the poverty level or 70 percent of the lower living standard income level. Funds may be appropriated as needed to run this program.