Introductory Statement on S. 5461

On 2026-09-23, Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) delivered a floor speech titled "Introductory Statement On S. 5461" in the Senate.

Introductory Statement on S. 5461

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 151 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 151 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4932-S4935] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar): S. 5461. A bill to require a study to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a Strategic Fertilizer Reserve for the storage and management of fertilizer products and fertilizer product inputs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on the fertilizing bill, Trump's terrible economy has been anything but fertile ground for American farmers. Today, along with Senator Klobuchar, I am announcing the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Act to ensure farmers have access to the resources they [[Page S4933]] need to feed our Nation's people and our economy. Our farmers are getting crushed from all sides by this administration. Trump's blunder in Iran has jacked up the price of fertilizer and diesel to record highs, making it harder for farmers to do their jobs, from planting to harvest. Meanwhile, Trump's costly trade wars and tariffs have raised the cost of farm equipment and, worst of all, closed off markets for our farmers to sell their products. Farm bankruptcies are increasing because of the tariffs and the markets that Trump closed off. Many farmers were already struggling to get by, and now 70 percent of them say they haven't been able to afford the fertilizer they need, all because of Trump's Iran war. Our bill directs the USDA to explore creating a strategic fertilizer reserve to help American farmers weather supply chain shocks by Trump's Iran war. Farmers already have to deal with enough uncertainty as it is: unpredictable weather, inconsistent crop yields, unforeseen blights. They shouldn't have to factor in the chaos coming out of Trump's White House, on top of it all. Soaring fertilizer costs squeeze farmers first, but it doesn't take long for that pain to hit American families at the grocery store. Every Senator who cares about lowering costs, every Senator who cares about helping farmers in rural communities, every Senator, period, ought to get behind this legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 5461 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 ``Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Agricultural cooperative.--The term ``agricultural cooperative'' means an organization or association formed by agricultural producers, operating for the mutual benefit of its members, to collectively market agricultural products, purchase inputs, or provide services. (2) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Board of Directors of the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Agency established under section 5(b). (3) Fertilizer product.--The term ``fertilizer product'' means-- (A) nitrogen, phosphate, or potash fertilizer; and (B) such other plant nutrient products as the Board may by regulation determine are essential to United States agricultural production, taking into consideration factors including-- (i) widespread use of the plant nutrient product; (ii) lack of substitute products available on the market; (iii) relative importance of the plant nutrient product for the production of crops grown in the United States; (iv) vulnerability of the plant nutrient product to supply chain disruptions; and (v) potential economic harm to agricultural producers if the plant nutrient product becomes unavailable or severely restricted in supply. (4) Fertilizer product input.--The term ``fertilizer product input'' means-- (A) critical inputs necessary to make nitrogen, phosphate, or potash fertilizer; and (B) such other plant nutrient product inputs as the Board may by regulation determine are essential to United States agricultural production, taking into consideration factors including the factors described in clauses (i) through (v) of paragraph (3)(B). (5) Reserve.--The term ``Reserve'' means the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve established by section 6(a). (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture. SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following: (1) Fertilizer, including nitrogen, phosphate, and potash products, is an essential agricultural input and vital to the stability of domestic and global food supplies. (2) Unstable fertilizer prices and supply disruptions in recent years have significantly increased production costs for farmers and ranchers and threatened food security and rural economies. (3) Rising fertilizer prices squeeze already thin farm margins, forcing producers to cut back on inputs or acreage, which can lower yields and ultimately drive up food prices for United States consumers. (4) Concentration in global fertilizer markets and reliance on imports that transit chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz heighten the vulnerability of the United States to supply shocks and geopolitical risks. (5) A federally managed strategic reserve of fertilizer product inputs, similar to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, could help mitigate the impacts of severe supply disruptions, price spikes, and other market emergencies, including those caused or exacerbated by avoidable policy-driven conflicts. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to require a study to evaluate-- (A) the feasibility of establishing a Strategic Fertilizer Reserve for the storage and management of fertilizer products and fertilizer product inputs; (B) best practices for the locations, development, operation, and maintenance of, and withdrawals from, the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve; (C) best practices relating to emerging fertilizer technologies and nutrient management practices; (D) the establishment of an independent agency of the United States Government, to be known as the ``Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Agency'', to reduce the impact of disruptions in supplies of fertilizer products on United States agricultural producers and consumers, including those arising from avoidable policy-driven conflicts and mismanagement of foreign policy; and (E) means to ensure that the management and operation of the Reserve are conducted with strict conflict of interest safeguards and transparency; and (2) to authorize the establishment of the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve and the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Agency. SEC. 4. FEASIBILITY STUDY. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a study-- (1) to investigate current domestic fertilizer product production capacity and vulnerabilities, such as import dependency for fertilizer products, critical chokepoints in fertilizer product distribution, and market concentration risks; (2) to investigate the feasibility of storing fertilizer products in the Reserve, including shelf life and degradation rates of stored fertilizer products and associated rotation and drawdown protocols; (3) to investigate the feasibility of storing fertilizer product inputs in the Reserve, including shelf life and degradation rates of stored fertilizer product inputs, associated rotation and drawdown protocols, and necessary blending and processing capacity; (4) to investigate the optimal Reserve size; (5) to investigate the effectiveness of the Reserve's price stabilization; (6) to investigate the type of organization or combination of organizations that are best suited to operate the Reserve; (7) to investigate the 1 or more locations best suited to host the facilities of the Reserve, which shall consider proximity to blending facilities, proximity to agricultural producers, and the climate resilience of facility sites; (8) to suggest the optimal organizational structure for the Reserve; (9) to investigate the situations in which withdrawals or releases from the Reserve would help stabilize prices for United States farmers; (10) to suggest risk management measures for spills, leaks, fires, and explosions; (11) to estimate the cybersecurity and physical security requirements for facilities of the Reserve; (12) to estimate the costs necessary to set up the Reserve; (13) to estimate the annual cost to maintain and operate the Reserve; (14) to investigate domestic fertilizer supply chains, including regional disparities in access for United States farmers; and (15) to consider other factors that the Secretary considers to be important in setting up, maintaining, and operating the Reserve. (b) Determination.--Based on the results of the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall determine whether to approve the establishment of the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Agency under section 5, the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve under section 6, and the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Fund under section 8. (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which funds are made available to the Secretary to conduct the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report describing the findings of the study and the determination of the Secretary under subsection (b). SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF STRATEGIC FERTILIZER RESERVE AGENCY. (a) Establishment.--On approval by the Secretary under section 4(b), there is established as an independent agency of the United States Government a body corporate, to be known as the ``Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Agency'', to develop and oversee the Reserve in accordance with this Act and informed by the findings of the study under section 4(a). (b) Board of Directors.-- (1) In general.--There is established a Board of Director

Referenced legislation: S5461