I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4425 
To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to 
establish the position of Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 30, 2023 
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ (for herself, Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia, Mrs. 
GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N, and Ms. PINGREE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization 
Act of 1994 to establish the position of Women Farmers 
and Ranchers Liaison, 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 ‘‘Women in Agriculture 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. WOMEN FARMERS AND RANCHERS LIAISON. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by inserting after 
section 222 (7 U.S.C. 6923) the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 223. WOMEN FARMERS AND RANCHERS LIAISON. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of the Women in Agri-
culture Act, the Secretary shall establish in the Depart-
ment the position of Women Farmers and Ranchers Liai-
son (in this section referred to as the ‘Liaison’). 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Liaison shall carry out 
the following duties: 
‘‘(A) With respect to agricultural programs 
available to women who are farmers and ranch-
ers— 
‘‘(i) provide information to such 
women about the availability of such pro-
grams and the eligibility requirements for 
such programs; and 
‘‘(ii) assist such women, and women 
who are potential farmers or ranchers, in 
applying for such programs. 
‘‘(B) Advocate on behalf of women who are 
farmers and ranchers in interactions with em-
ployees of the Department. 
‘‘(C) Promote the advancement of women 
in leadership roles within the Department. 
‘‘(D) Submit and make publicly available 
the report required under paragraph (2)(A). 
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‘‘(E) Consult and provide technical assist-
ance to the Equity Commission of the Depart-
ment. 
‘‘(F) Consult with and provide technical 
assistance to any Federal agency that requests 
such assistance with respect to the duties de-
scribed in subparagraphs (A) through (E). 
‘‘(2) REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of the Women 
in Agriculture Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Liaison shall submit to Congress and make 
publicly available a report on the grants, loans, 
loan guarantees, and cost share programs made 
by the Secretary to woman-owned agriculture 
operations. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—Each report required 
under subparagraph (A) shall include, with re-
spect to the fiscal year preceding such report— 
‘‘(i) the total number of grants, loans, 
loan guarantees, and cost share programs 
made by each of the Farm Service Agency 
and the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service to agriculture operations; 
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‘‘(ii) the percentage of such grants, 
loans, loan guarantees, and cost share pro-
grams made to woman-owned agriculture 
operations; 
‘‘(iii) the percentage of total funding 
directed to woman-owned agriculture oper-
ations, disaggregated by program; 
‘‘(iv) the percentage of applications 
made by women-owned agricultural oper-
ations; and 
‘‘(v) the percentage of women at dif-
ferent GS levels at the Department, 
disaggregated by office. 
‘‘(3) CONTRACT
OR
COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENT.—The Liaison may enter into a contract or 
cooperative agreement with a research center of the 
Agricultural Research Service, an institution of high-
er education (as such term is defined in section 101 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001)), or a nonprofit organization to carry out 1 or 
more of the following activities with respect to 
women who are farmers and ranchers: 
‘‘(A) Conducting research on the profit-
ability of small farms run by such women. 
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‘‘(B) Developing educational materials for 
such women. 
‘‘(C) Conducting workshops, courses, and 
certified vocational training for such women. 
‘‘(D) Conducting mentoring activities for 
such women. 
‘‘(E) Providing internship opportunities for 
such women. 
‘‘(c) STAFF SUPPORT.—The Secretary may appoint 
staff of the Department of Agriculture to support the Liai-
son.’’. 
(b) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—Section 296(b) 
of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 
1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(11) The authority of the Secretary to carry 
out the amendment made to this title by the Women 
in Agriculture Act.’’. 
SEC. 3. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION AREAS. 
Section 1672(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(d)) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(21) 
ERGONOMICALLY
DESIGNED
AGRI-
CULTURE EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY.—Research 
and extension grants may be made under this sec-
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tion for the purposes of developing and making 
widely available agriculture equipment and machin-
ery that is ergonomically designed for use by 
women.’’. 
SEC. 4. CHILD CARE PRIORITY. 
Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(27) CHILD CARE PRIORITY.—In selecting recipi-
ents of loans and grants under this subsection, the Sec-
retary shall give priority to any qualified applicant that 
proposes to use the loan or grant to address the avail-
ability, quality, or cost of childcare in an agricultural or 
rural community.’’. 
Æ 
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