House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) has introduced the No Discrimination in Farm Programs Act, a bill intended to make permanent the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s July 10 final rule that bars the use of race and sex as factors in determining eligibility for benefits under various farm programs. These include farm loan and indemnity payment programs.
“Disasters don’t discriminate against farmers based on their race or gender and neither should our government programs. Yet, during the Biden Administration, disaster payments were distributed based on these discriminatory factors that had nothing to do with disaster impact,” said Chairman Arrington. “These practices violate our laws and our values, and they have no place in America. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the No Discrimination in Farm Programs Act to ensure future administrations never again use race- and sex-based factors when distributing critical farm program funding meant to safeguard Rural America.”
Russell Boening, President of the Texas Farm Bureau, expressed support for the bill: “Texas Farm Bureau thanks Congressman Arrington for introducing the ‘No Discrimination in Farm Programs Act,’ which aims to ensure USDA programs are administered fairly and without bias. Opportunity in agriculture should be based on merit, hard work, and the real challenges producers face. Texas agriculture is diverse and resilient, grounded in values of integrity and equal opportunity. We support policies that create a level playing field for all farmers and ranchers when accessing USDA programs. This legislation is an important step toward restoring trust in how federal assistance is delivered. We urge Congress to support it and stand with producers across the country who seek fair and consistent treatment.”
Hagen Hunt, President of the Texas Corn Producers Association, also commented: “Disasters and economic hardships don’t discriminate, and neither should the government programs designed to allow America’s farmers to continue providing the quality food, feed, fuel and fiber that Americans rely on. TCPA appreciates the Trump administration’s efforts to address this issue and thanks Chairman Arrington for his leadership in introducing legislation that would make those corrective actions permanent law.”
Kevin Corzine, Secretary/Treasurer of Rolling Plains Cotton Growers added: “Our producers are proud to support the ‘No Discrimination in Farm Programs Act,’ which would eliminate the bias against producers we saw in previous USDA Emergency Relief Programs. The previous Administration defied the intent of Congress and the Constitution by discriminating disaster relief payments. We hope that this new bill will help ensure that this won’t happen in the future. Row crop producers across the U.S. were adversely effected at a time when our rural economies are at an all-time pressure point and we certainly would like to thank Congressman Jodey Arrington for stepping up on this issue.”
In June 2024, a federal court ruling from Amarillo blocked race- and sex-based considerations from being used within USDA’s Emergency Relief Program after a lawsuit brought by Texas farmers challenged these criteria as unconstitutional.
The proposed legislation would codify recent regulatory changes made by USDA under former President Trump’s administration into law but would continue allowing special consideration for veteran farmers, limited resource farmers based on income levels, or beginning farmers.
Jodey Arrington has represented Texas’s 19th district since 2016; he won reelection multiple times with significant margins over his opponents.
