Bringing Assistance for Rural Needs During Shutdowns Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Bringing Assistance for Rural Needs During Shutdowns Act is a shutdown-continuity bill for USDA's Farm Service Agency. It provides that any services by an FSA officer or employee are deemed, for purposes of 31 U.S.C. 1342, to be services for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. Section 1342 is the Antideficiency Act voluntary-services provision used to determine which government functions may continue during funding lapses. The bill would make FSA services essential for shutdown purposes, allowing FSA employees to keep providing farm program, loan, disaster, and property-protection-related assistance during a lapse.
Who Benefits and How
Farmers and ranchers benefit because FSA services could continue during a government shutdown. Rural borrowers and farm program participants benefit from continued access to FSA offices, loans, payments, and assistance. Farm Service Agency offices benefit from clearer shutdown authority to continue work rather than suspending services.
Who Bears the Burden and How
FSA officers and employees may be required to work during appropriations lapses as excepted personnel. USDA shutdown planners must treat FSA services as emergency services under the Antideficiency Act. Federal payroll systems must handle pay for excepted FSA employees under shutdown rules.
Key Provisions
- Provides that all Farm Service Agency officer and employee services are emergency services under 31 U.S.C. 1342.
- Allows FSA work to continue during partial or full government shutdowns.
- Protects continuity for farm, ranch, loan, and rural assistance services during appropriations lapses.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Treats Farm Service Agency officer and employee services during a government shutdown as emergency services involving the safety of human life or protection of property under the Antideficiency Act, allowing FSA work to continue during appropriations lapses.
Key Policy Areas
Agriculture, Government Shutdowns, USDA
Primary Purpose
Treats Farm Service Agency officer and employee services during a government shutdown as emergency services involving the safety of human life or protection of property under the Antideficiency Act, allowing FSA work to continue during appropriations lapses.
Policy Domains
Substantive provisions
Identified Gains
- Farmers
- Ranchers
- Rural borrowers
- Farm program participants
- Farm Service Agency offices
Identified Costs
- Farm Service Agency employees
- USDA shutdown planners
- Federal payroll administrators
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Wied (for himself, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Mackenzie, …
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
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