SenateS. 4651119th Congress
Increasing Insurance Access for Specialty Crops Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4651 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4651
To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to increase access to Federal
crop insurance for specialty crops.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 2, 2026
Mr. Schiff (for himself and Mr. Lujan) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to increase access to Federal
crop insurance for specialty crops.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Increasing Insurance Access for
Specialty Crops Act''.
SEC. 2. SPECIALTY CROP ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) In General.--Section 505 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1505) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (E),
(F), and (G) as subparagraphs (F), (G), and
(H), respectively;
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (D)
the following:
``(E) The Chairperson of the Specialty Crop
Advisory Committee established by subsection (f).'';
and
(iii) in subparagraph (H) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``specialty crop''
and inserting ``livestock''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``subparagraphs
(E), (F), and (G) of paragraph (2)'' and inserting
``subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H) of paragraph (2) and
the members of the Specialty Crop Advisory Committee
described in subsection (f)(2)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Specialty Crop Advisory Committee.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall--
``(A) establish a Specialty Crop Advisory Committee
(referred to in this subsection as the `Committee');
and
``(B) appoint to the Committee in accordance with
paragraph (2) the initial members that will assist the
Corporation in the research, creation, and improvement
of policies or plans of insurance for specialty crops.
``(2) Composition.--
``(A) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the
Committee shall be an individual with experience in
crop insurance and the unique nature of the specialty
crop industry.
``(B) Members.--The Committee shall consist of--
``(i) individuals with an understanding of
the production methods, markets, and risks
(including losses due to weather, trade
damages, and supply chain disruptions) unique
to specialty crop production;
``(ii) not fewer than 5 producers and not
more than 10 total members; and
``(iii) not fewer than 1 producer from each
of the West, Midwest, South, and Northeast
regions of the United States (as identified by
the Bureau of the Census).
``(3) Duties.--The Committee shall--
``(A) advise the manager of the Corporation on
issues relating to specialty crop insurance policies;
``(B) provide input, through the Chairperson of the
Committee, to the Board on decisions relating to
specialty crop insurance policies;
``(C) review available educational programs and
make recommendations to the manager of the Corporation
on how to enhance the effectiveness of such programs
for specialty crop producers;
``(D) provide recommendations to the manager of the
Corporation regarding the presentation of policies to
the Board required by section 508(a)(6);
``(E) advise the manager of the Corporation on
entering into partnerships and contracts to carry out
subsections (d) and (e)(2)(B) of section 522; and
``(F) meet not less than 2 times each year to carry
out the duties described in this paragraph.''.
(b) Specialty Crops Coordinator.--Section 507(g) of the Federal
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1507(g)) is amended by striking paragraph
(2) and inserting the following:
``(2) Responsibilities.--
``(A) In general.--The Specialty Crops Coordinator
shall have primary responsibility for addressing the
needs of specialty crop producers, and for providing
information and advice, in connection with the
activities of the Corporation to improve and expand the
insurance program for specialty crops.
``(B) Other duties.--In carrying out this
paragraph, the Specialty Crops Coordinator shall--
``(i) act as the liaison of the Corporation
with representatives of specialty crop
producers and the Specialty Crop Advisory
Committee established under section 505(f); and
``(ii) assist the Corporation with the
knowledge, expertise, and familiarity of the
producers with risk management and production
issues pertaining to specialty crops.''.
(c) Annual Review of New and Specialty Crops.--Section 508(a)(6)(A)
of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(6)(A)) is amended
by inserting ``(in consultation with the Specialty Crop Advisory
Committee established under section 505(f))'' after ``Corporation''.
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