American Relief Act, 2025

Bill: 118-hr-10545
Sponsor: Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]
Introduced: 2024-12-20 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Abortion
Access Board
Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Adoption and foster care
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Aging
Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural education
Agricultural equipment and machinery
Agricultural insurance
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Agricultural research
Agricultural trade
Air quality
Alabama
Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Alliances
Alternative and renewable resources
American Battle Monuments Commission
American Samoa
Animal and plant health
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Appalachian Regional Commission
Appropriations
Aquatic ecology
Arizona
Arkansas
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Arms control and nonproliferation
Army Corps of Engineers
Asia
Assault and harassment offenses
Athletes
Atmospheric science and weather
Aviation and airports
Birds
Budget process
Building construction
Business investment and capital
Buy American requirements
California
Canada
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Cell biology and embryology
Cemeteries and funerals
Census and government statistics
Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
China
Civil actions and liability
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coal
Coast guard
Collective security
Colorado
Commission of Fine Arts
Commission on Civil Rights
Commodities markets
Commodity Credit Corporation
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Community life and organization
Competition and antitrust
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Connecticut
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Cuba
Currency
Customs enforcement
Dams and canals
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
Defense spending
Delta Regional Authority
Denali Commission
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of State
Department of Transportation
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of the Interior
Department of the Treasury
Detention of persons
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Disaster relief and insurance
District of Columbia
Domestic violence and child abuse
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Economic development
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Electric power generation and transmission
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency communications systems
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Endangered and threatened species
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Europe
Evidence and witnesses
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Family planning and birth control
Family relationships
Family services
Farm Credit Administration
Farmland
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Federal Maritime Commission
Federal appellate courts
Federal officials
Federal-Indian relations
Firearms and explosives
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Fishes
Floods and storm protection
Florida
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Foreign aid and international relief
Forests, forestry, trees
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
General Services Administration
Genetics
Geography and mapping
Georgia
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Grain
Great Lakes
Guam
HIV/AIDS
Hate crimes
Hawaii
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hereditary and development disorders
Higher education
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Home and outpatient care
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Hong Kong
Horticulture and plants
Hospital care
Housing and community development funding
Housing discrimination
Housing finance and home ownership
Housing for the elderly and disabled
Housing industry and standards
Housing supply and affordability
Human rights
Human trafficking
Humanities programs funding
Idaho
Illinois
Immigration status and procedures
Immunology and vaccination
Indian claims
Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Infrastructure development
Insects
Intellectual property
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Interagency Council on Homelessness
Intergovernmental relations
International exchange and broadcasting
International monetary system and foreign exchange
International organizations and cooperation
Internet, web applications, social media
Iran
Judges
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Kansas
Kentucky
Lakes and rivers
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Landlord and tenant
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Lawyers and legal services
Lease and rental services
Legal Services Corporation
Legal fees and court costs
Libraries and archives
Licensing and registrations
Livestock
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Louisiana

Summary:
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: 

American Relief Act, 2025

This act provides continuing FY2025 appropriations for federal agencies and supplemental appropriations for disaster relief. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities, including several public health and agriculture programs.

DIVISION A--FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025

Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025

This division provides continuing FY2025 appropriations to federal agencies through the earlier of March 14, 2025, or the enactment of the applicable appropriations act. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and prevents a government shutdown that would otherwise occur if the FY2025 appropriations bills have not been enacted when the existing CR expires on December 20, 2024.

The CR funds most programs and activities at the FY2024 levels with several exceptions that provide funding flexibility and additional appropriations for various programs.

(Sec. 101) This section provides FY2025 appropriations to federal agencies for continuing projects or activities at the levels and under the conditions included in specified FY2024 appropriations acts. The section also extends several immigration-related programs and specifies several exceptions.

The section provides additional funding to the District of Columbia for costs associated with emergency planning and security activities related to the January 2025 Presidential Inauguration.

It also amends the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 to add the following provisions:

(Sec. 153) This section permits the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to apportion specified funds at the rate necessary to maintain the acquisition schedule for Geostationary Earth Orbit.

(Sec. 154) This section permits the Department of Justice to apportion Justice Information Technology funding at the rate necessary to carry out proactive vulnerability detection and penetration testing activities.

(Sec. 155) This section provides additional emergency funding for the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct risk reduction and modification of National Security Systems.

(Sec. 156) This section permits the Navy to apportion specified funds at the rate necessary for activities related to the procurement of a Columbia Class Submarine.

(Sec. 157) This section provides additional emergency funding to the Navy for (1) the Virginia Class Submarine program, and (2) for workforce wage and non-executive salary improvements for other nuclear-powered vessel programs. Specifically, the funds may be used to incrementally fund contract obligations for the improvement of workforce wages and non-executive level salaries on new or existing contracts pertaining to the Virginia Class Submarine program or to other nuclear-powered vessel programs.

(Sec. 158) This section provides additional emergency funding to DOD for conducting risk reduction and modification of National Security Systems.

(Sec. 159) This section allows the Department of Energy (DOE) to apportion specified funds for Atomic Energy Defense Activities at the rate necessary to sustain specialized security activities. It also requires DOE and the Office of Management and Budget to notify Congress no later than three days after each use of this authority.

(Sec. 160) This section provides additional emergency funding to DOE for conducting risk reduction and modification of National Security Systems.

(Sec. 161) This section extends and increases the authorization of appropriations for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

(Sec. 162) This section provides additional emergency funding to the Department of the Treasury for conducting risk reduction and modification of National Security Systems.

(Sec. 163) This section extends the exemption from the Antideficiency Act for the Federal Communications Commission's Universal Service Fund.

(Sec. 164) This section extends limits on pay increases for the Vice President and certain senior political appointees.

(Sec. 165) This section permits the Department of Education to apportion Student Aid Administration funds at the rate necessary ensure the continuation of student loan servicing activities and the student aid application and eligibility determination processes.

(Sec. 166) This section allows certain unobligated military construction funds that were provided to the Army to be used for an access road project at Arlington National Cemetery.

(Sec. 167) This section provides that specified rescissions of funds from various Veteran Health Administration accounts do not apply during the period covered by the CR.

(Sec. 168) This section extends the term of a member of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Board of Directors.

(Sec. 169) This section permits the Federal Aviation Administration to apportion funds at the rate necessary to fund mandatory pay increases and other inflationary adjustments, to maintain and improve air traffic services, to hire and train air traffic controllers, and to continue aviation safety oversight, while avoiding service reductions.

DIVISION B--DISASTER RELIEF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025

Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025

This division provides supplemental appropriations to various federal agencies for disaster relief and assistance to respond to hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters.

TITLE I

This title provides appropriations to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for

the Office of the Secretary,

the Office of Inspector General,

the Agricultural Research Service,

the Emergency Forest Restoration Program and the Emergency Conservation Program within the Farm Service Agency,

the Emergency Watershed Protection Program within the Natural Resources Conservation Service,

the Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund, and

the Commodity Assistance Program within the Food and Nutrition Service

(Sec. 2101) This section modifies the requirements for the Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund to allow the fund to be used for additional purposes and expand the activity or project limitations that USDA is permitted to waive.

For example, this section

permits USDA to waive certain limits on age and duplication with respect to replacement of damaged or destroyed utilities;

specifies that the fund may be used for activities in areas affected by a disaster declared by the governor of a state or territory (currently USDA or the President);

allows USDA to use alternative sources of income data provided by local, regional, state, or federal government sources to determine program eligibility; and

specifies that, with respect to grants authorized by the Community Facilities Grant Program, USDA may not require the applicant to demonstrate that it is unable to finance the proposed project from its own resources, through commercial credit at reasonable rates and terms, or other funding sources without grant assistance.

(Sec. 2102) This section requires USDA to make one-time economic assistance payments to producers of certain commodities if the expected gross return per acre for the commodity is less than the expected cost of production per acre for that eligible commodity. The section also specifies requirements for determining the (1) the expected gross return per acre, (2) the expected cost of production per acre, and (3) the amount of the economic assistance payment for a producer.

TITLE II

This title provides appropriations for the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Within Commerce, the title provides appropriations to the Economic Development Administration for Economic Development Assistance Programs.

The title also provides appropriations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for

Operations, Research, and Facilities;

Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction; and

Fisheries Disaster Assistance.

The title provides appropriations to DOJ for (1) the U.S. Marshals Service, and (2) the Federal Prison System.

The title provides appropriations to NASA for Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration.

TITLE III

This title provides appropriations to the Department of Defense for

Operation and Maintenance;

Procurement;

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation; and

the Defense Health Program.

TITLE IV

This title provides appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, and the Department of Energy (DOE).

The title provides appropriations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for

Investigations,

Construction,

Mississippi River and Tributaries, and

Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies.

The title provides appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation for Water and Related Resources.

Within DOE, the title provides appropriations for (1) the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; and (2) the National Nuclear Security Administration, including for Weapons Activities and Defense Environmental Cleanup.

TITLE V

This title provides appropriations to the U.S. Supreme Court for protection of the residences of the Supreme Court Justices.

It also provides appropriations to the Small Business Administration for the Disaster Loans Program Account.

TITLE VI

This title provides appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security for

the U.S. Coast Guard;

the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the Disaster Relief Fund and the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Account; and

the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers.

TITLE VII

This title provides appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Forest Service.

The title provides appropriation to Interior for

the Bureau of Land Management,

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

the National Park Service,

the U.S. Geological Survey,

the Bureau of Indian Affairs,

the Bureau of Indian Education, and

the Office of Inspector General.

The title provides appropriations to the EPA for (1) the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program, and (2) State and Tribal Assistance Grants.

The title provides appropriations to the Forest Service for

Forest Service Operations;

Forest and Rangeland Research;

State, Private, and Tribal Forestry;

the National Forest System; and

Capital Improvement and Maintenance

(Sec. 2701) This section allows Interior and the Forest Service to recruit and directly appoint highly qualified individuals into the competitive service to address certain critical hiring needs for the planning and execution of the projects and activities funded in this title without regard to specified hiring procedures and requirements. This section also specifies requirements and restrictions for using this authority.

(Sec. 2702) This section requires agencies that receive funds provided by this title to submit detailed operating plans to Congress prior to obligating the funds.

TITLE VIII

This title provides appropriations to the Administration for Children and Families for Payments to States for the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

(Sec. 2801) This section requires agencies that receive funds provided by this title to submit detailed operating plans to Congress prior to obligating the funds.

TITLE IX

This title provides appropriations to the Government Accountability Office for audits and investigations related to Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, and other disasters.

TITLE X

This title provides appropriations for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The title provides appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military construction for

the Navy and Marine Corps.

the Air Force, and

the Army National Guard.

The title also provides appropriations to the Navy and Marine Corps for (1) Family Housing Construction, and (2) Family Housing Operation and Maintenance.

Within the VA, the title provides appropriations to the Veteran Health Administration for

Medical Services,

Medical Support and Compliance, and

Medical Facilities.

The title also provides appropriations to the VA for (1) the National Cemetery Administration; and (2) Departmental Administration, including construction for major and minor projects.

TITLE XI

This title provides appropriations to the Department of State for the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico.

TITLE XII

This title provides appropriations to the Federal Highway Administration for the Emergency Relief Program.

It also provides appropriations to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Development Fund.

TITLE XIII

(Sec. 21301) This section specifies that the funds provided by this division are in addition to funds otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year involved.

(Sec. 21302) This section prohibits funds provided by this division from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless this division expressly provides otherwise.

(Sec. 21303) Unless otherwise specified by this division, the funds provided by this division are subject to the authorities and conditions that apply to the applicable appropriations accounts for FY2025.

(Sec. 21304) This section specifies that funds designated as emergency spending by Divisions A or B are only available if the President subsequently designates all of the funds as emergency spending and transmits the designations to Congress.

(Sec. 21305) This section specifies that funds that are designated by Divisions A or B as emergency spending and are transferred pursuant to authorities provided by this division shall retain the emergency designations.

(Sec. 21306) This section exempts the budgetary effects of Division C and each subsequent division of this act from (1) the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO Act), (2) the Senate PAYGO rule, and (3) certain budget scorekeeping rules.

DIVISION C--HEALTH 

Health Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2025
 

TITLE I--PUBLIC HEALTH EXTENDERS

(Sec. 3101) This section extends through March 31, 2025, funding for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, the Community Health Center Fund, and the National Health Service Corps. The program supports education and training of medical students in primary care residency programs in community-based ambulatory patient care centers. The fund supports (1) grants for outpatient health care facilities that serve medically underserved populations; and (2) the National Health Service Corps, which provides scholarships and student loan repayment awards to health care providers who agree to work in areas with health care provider shortages.

(Sec. 3102) This section extends funding through March 31, 2025, for the Special Diabetes Program for Type I Diabetes and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians. The Special Diabetes Program for Type I Diabetes supports research on the prevention and cure of Type I diabetes, and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians supports diabetes treatment and prevention for tribal populations.

(Sec. 3103) This section extends through March 31, 2025, the authority that allows states and tribes to request the temporary reassignment of state and local health department personnel who are funded through certain federal programs to immediately address a public health emergency.

It also extends through March 31, 2025, provisions that prohibit the disclosure of information about Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs that could compromise national security (e.g., information regarding biomedical threats).

The section extends through March 31, 2025, provisions that authorize HHS to engage with developers of medical countermeasures, and that provide for related antitrust exemptions, for the purpose of furthering product development.

Additionally, the section extends through March 31, 2025, the National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters, the National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters, and the National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters.

It also extends through March 31, 2025, the authority of HHS to directly appoint candidates to positions within the National Disaster Medical System if HHS determines the number of personnel in the system is insufficient to address a public health emergency or potential public health emergency. The National Disaster Medical System is a partnership between HHS, the Department of Defense, and other federal departments that responds to public health and other emergencies, including by deploying medical response teams.

TITLE II--MEDICARE

(Sec. 3201) This section extends through March 31, 2025, certain increased payment adjustments for low-volume hospitals under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system.

(Sec. 3202) This section extends through March 31, 2025, the Medicare-Dependent Hospital Program, which provides additional payments to certain small rural hospitals that have a high proportion of Medicare patients.

(Sec. 3203) This section extends through March 31, 2025, certain increased payment adjustments for ground ambulance services in rural and other areas under Medicare.

(Sec. 3204) This section extends through March 31, 2025, funding for certain Medicare quality-measurement activities.

(Sec. 3205) This section extends through March 31, 2025, funding for state health insurance programs, area agencies on aging, aging and disability resource centers, and technical assistance related to outreach and enrollment with respect to Medicare and other programs.

(Sec. 3206) This section extends through March 31, 2025, certain minimum adjustments to the work geographic index with respect to payments for physician services under Medicare.

(Sec. 3207) This section extends through March 31, 2025, certain telehealth flexibilities under Medicare.

Specifically, the section (1) removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary); (2) allows the home of the beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services; (3) allows audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists to furnish telehealth services; (4) allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner); (5) delays implementation of certain in-person evaluation requirements for mental health telehealth services; (6) expands coverage to include audio-only services for evaluation and management and behavioral health services; and (7) allows, for purposes of hospice care recertification under Medicare, physicians and nurse practitioners to fulfill the requirement of a face-to-face encounter with the hospice patient via telehealth.

(Sec. 3208) This section extends through March 31, 2025, the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program under Medicare. (The program allows hospitals to treat certain patients from emergency departments or inpatient hospital beds at home.)

(Sec. 3209) This section extends through March 31, 2025, coverage under the Medicare prescription drug benefit of prescription oral antiviral drugs that were authorized in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

(Sec. 3210) This section reduces funding for the Medicare Improvement Fund beginning in FY2026.

TITLE III--HUMAN SERVICES

(Sec. 3301) This section extends through March 31, 2025, funding for the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program. This program supports projects to implement sexual risk avoidance education that teaches participants to voluntarily refrain from nonmarital sexual activities.

(Sec. 3302) This section extends through March 31, 2025, funding for the Personal Responsibility Education Program. This program provides grants to states to educate young people about abstinence and contraception for prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The program also supports pregnant and parenting youth.

(Sec. 3303) This section extends through March 31, 2025, the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Program, which is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The program awards grants to family-run organizations to support the provision of information and peer support to families of children with special health care needs. 

DIVISION D--EXTENSION OF AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

(Sec. 4101) This section extends programs authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (commonly known as the 2018 farm bill) until the later of (1) September 30, 2025; (2) the date specified in the provision of the act; or (3) the date in effect for programs authorized by the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024.

This section extends and amends Department of Agriculture (USDA) commodity programs, including by

extending various programs for covered commodities, a loan commodity, sugarcane, or sugar beets for the 2025 crop year;

extending the Special Competitive Provisions for Extra Long Staple Cotton program through July 31, 2026;

extending the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments through the 2025 crop year for a covered commodity;

extending the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program through December 31, 2025;

limiting the 25% premium discount for the DMC program in 2025 to participating dairy operations that received the discount in 2024;

allowing Dairy Forward Pricing Program contracts to be extended through September 30, 2028 (previously September 30, 2027);

extending the suspension of permanent price support authorities for the 2025 crop year for covered commodities, cotton, and sugar and through December 31, 2025, for milk; and

extending the suspension of provisions related to corn and wheat marketing quotas for wheat planted for harvest in calendar year 2025.

This section extends the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust through FY2025 to allow for eligible commodities to remain in the trust until September 30, 2025. The program makes funds available to provide emergency food assistance to developing countries.

This section extends through FY2025 a provision that prohibits USDA from declaring the Grazinglands Research Laboratory in El Reno, Oklahoma, to be excess or surplus federal property, or otherwise conveying or transferring the property.

This section extends through the 2025 crop year the Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP) for Bioenergy Producers, which allows the Commodity Credit Corporation to purchase surplus sugar from processors for resale to ethanol producers for ethanol fuel. Further, this section extends through September 1, 2025, requirements for USDA to provide notice to eligible entities and bioenergy producers of the quantity of eligible commodities that must be made available for purchase and sale for the crop year.

Further, this section specifies that the extension of farm bill programs does not apply to certain commodities-related mandatory funding that was provided for

the Farm Service Agency to implement USDA commodity programs;

the Pima Agriculture Cotton Trust Fund, which provides assistance to reduce the economic injury to domestic manufacturers resulting from tariffs on cotton fabric that are higher than tariffs on certain apparel articles made of cotton fabric;

the Agriculture Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund, which provides assistance to reduce the economic injury to domestic manufacturers resulting from tariffs on wool fabric that are higher than tariffs on certain apparel articles made of wool fabric; and

the Wool Research and Promotion Program, which provides grants to assist U.S. wool producers with improving the quality of wool and with developing and promoting the wool market.

This section specifies that the extension of farm bill programs does not apply to certain conservation-related mandatory funding for FY2024 and FY2025 that was provided for

the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program, a joint project with the Farm Service Agency and the National Rural Water Association (a nonprofit water and wastewater utility membership organization), which is designed to help prevent pollution of surface and ground water that is used as the primary source of drinking water by rural residents;

the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, which provides funding to help state and tribal governments encourage landowners to allow public access to their land for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation;

certain funding under the Conservation Reserve Program for forest management incentive payments (e.g., payments for thinning and other practices to improve the condition of resources, promote forest management, or enhance wildlife habitat) and to facilitate the transfer of land subject to contracts under the program to beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and

the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, which responds to the threat feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and human and animal health.

This section also specifies that the extension of farm bill programs does not apply with respect to certain limitations on payments under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program.

This section specifies that the extension of farm bill programs does not apply to certain mandatory funding that was provided for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). TEFAP provides food commodities (and cash support for storage and distribution costs) through states to local emergency feeding organizations (e.g., food banks).

This section specifies that the extension of farm bill programs does not apply to certain mandatory funding that was provided for the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program, which provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations.

This section specifies that the extension of farm bill programs does not apply to certain research-related mandatory funding that was provided for

scholarships for students at 1890 Institutions through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) program that provides grants to 1890 Institutions (i.e., historically Black colleges and universities that belong to the U.S. land-grant university system) for awarding scholarships to students who intend to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences;

the Urban, Indoor, and other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education, and Extension Initiative, a NIFA competitive grant program; and

the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, a nonprofit corporation established to advance the research mission of USDA by supporting research activities focused on key problems of national and international significance.

This section specifies that the extension of farm bill programs does not apply to certain energy-related mandatory funding that was provided for

the biobased markets program (i.e., BioPreferred Program) which promotes biobased products through mandatory purchasing requirements for federal agencies and their contractors and through a voluntary labeling initiative for biobased products; 

the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program, which provides loan guarantees to assist in the development of new and emerging technologies for the development of advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing; and

the bioenergy program for advanced biofuels (i.e., Advanced Biofuel Payment Program) which provides payments to fuel producers to support and expand production of advanced biofuels (i.e., not derived from corn starch).

This section specifies that the extension of farm bill programs does not apply to certain horticulture-related mandatory funding that was provided for

USDA to collect and report data on the production and marketing of organic agricultural products;

modernization and improvement of international trade technology systems and data collection for imports of organically produced agricultural products;

the Organic Certification Cost Share Program, which provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program; and

the multiple crop and pesticide use survey of farmers conducted by the USDA Office of Pest Management Policy.

This section specifies that the extension of farm bill programs does not apply to certain mandatory funding that was provided for

the Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program, which seeks to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and sheep products in the United States; and

the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund, which funds a program that aims to bring together scientists to find scientifically sound and financially sustainable solutions to Huanglongbing (i.e., citrus greening, a bacterial disease spread by an insect that feeds on citrus).

This section also extends various reporting requirements authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

Finally, this section must be applied and administered as if it had been enacted on September 30, 2024.

DIVISION E--OTHER MATTERS

(Sec. 5101) This section extends until March 14, 2025, the availability of funds for customer education initiatives and administrative expenses of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Office of Customer Education and Outreach and the Whistleblower Program. This section is retroactively effective beginning September 30, 2024.

(Sec. 5102) This section extends until March 14, 2025, the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice to take certain actions to mitigate a credible threat to certain facilities or assets from an unmanned aircraft system (UAS). These include certain facilities that are located in the United States and identified as high-risk and a potential target for unlawful UAS activity.

(Sec. 5103) This section extends until March 14, 2025, the special assessment on nonindigent persons or entities convicted of certain offenses involving sexual abuse or human trafficking. The assessment funds programs for human-trafficking survivors.

(Sec. 5104) This section extends the authority for DHS’s National Cybersecurity Protection System and related reporting requirements until March 14, 2025.

(Sec. 5105) This section extends until March 31, 2025, the temporary scheduling order issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration to place fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Became Public Law No: 118-158.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Became Public Law No: 118-158.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Passed Senate, under the order of 12/20/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 85 - 11. Record Vote Number: 339. (consideration: CR S7306-7307)
action_date: 2024-12-21
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate, under the order of 12/20/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 85 - 11. Record Vote Number: 339.
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: Received in the Senate, read twice.
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 366 - 34, 1 Present (Roll no. 517). (text: CR H7395-7409)
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 366 - 34, 1 Present (Roll no. 517).
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 10545.
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7395-7413)
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: Mr. Cole moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2024-12-20
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 118-158