I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6683 
To provide loan forgiveness for certain borrowers of Department of 
Agriculture direct farm loans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 1, 2020 
Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York (for himself, Mr. DELGADO, Ms. 
PINGREE, Mr. WELCH, and Mr. MALINOWSKI) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition 
to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide loan forgiveness for certain borrowers of Depart-
ment of Agriculture direct farm loans, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Relief for America’s 
Small Farmers Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DIRECT FARM LOAN FORGIVENESS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) ELIGIBLE BORROWER.—The term ‘‘eligible 
borrower’’ means a borrower of an eligible loan that 
is actively engaged in farming (within the meaning 
of section 1001A of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(7 U.S.C. 1308–1)) with respect to a farming oper-
ation— 
(A) for which the eligible loan was made; 
and 
(B) the average annual adjusted gross in-
come for the previous 5-year period of which is 
not more than $300,000. 
(2) ELIGIBLE LOAN.—The term ‘‘eligible loan’’ 
means a loan made before March 19, 2020, that 
is— 
(A) a direct farm ownership loan under 
subtitle A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922 et seq.); 
(B) a direct operating loan under subtitle 
B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Devel-
opment Act (7 U.S.C. 1941 et seq.); or 
(C) an emergency loan under subtitle C of 
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
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(b) LOAN FORGIVENESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date on which the Secretary receives an applica-
tion under paragraph (2), subject to paragraphs (3) 
and (4), the Secretary shall cancel the obligation to 
repay the balance of principal and interest due as of 
the date of enactment of this Act on an eligible loan 
for the eligible borrower. 
(2) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for cancella-
tion under paragraph (1), not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, an eligible bor-
rower shall submit to the Secretary an application, 
which shall cover all eligible loans for which the eli-
gible borrower is seeking cancellation. 
(3) LIMITATIONS.—The total amount cancelled 
under paragraph (1) with respect to a farming oper-
ation shall be not more than $250,000. 
(4) CONDITION.—The cancellation of an obliga-
tion under paragraph (1) shall be subject to the con-
dition that the applicable eligible borrower shall con-
tinue to be actively engaged in farming (within the 
meaning of section 1001A of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–1)) for the 2-year period 
beginning on the date on which the Secretary can-
cels the obligation under that paragraph. 
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(c) EFFECT.—An eligible borrower that receives can-
cellation of an obligation with respect to an eligible loan 
under subsection (b)(1) shall not be determined to be ineli-
gible for any loan under subtitle A, B, or C of the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922 
et seq.) because of that cancellation. 
(d) TAXABILITY.—For purposes of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986, any amount which (but for this sub-
section) would be includible in gross income of the eligible 
borrower by reason of forgiveness described in subsection 
(b) shall be excluded from gross income. 
Æ 
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