Sen. Lujan Introduces CHILE Act to Provide $5 Billion in Emergency Aid for Specialty Crop Farmers
The CHILE Act of 2026 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently introduced in the Senate and sent to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for review. No further actions are scheduled at this time.
While the bill addresses a major gap in farm aid, it currently lacks Republican cosponsors and faces a difficult path through the committee process during a busy session.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Many specialty crop operations are small and mid-sized family businesses. The bill specifically acknowledges the diverse business structures used by these producers, meaning sole proprietors, partnerships, and family LLCs would all be eligible. The emergency payment framework gives these businesses a financial backstop during crises that could otherwise force them to shut down.
“the diverse types of legal entities and business structures used by specialty crop producers”
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Senators Ben Ray Luján and Elissa Slotkin introduced the CHILE Act to establish a permanent emergency assistance framework for specialty crops. The bill proposes $5 billion for fiscal year 2027, with payments calculated based on a producer's sales in the year prior to an adverse event.
The CHILE Act aims to expand federal protections for specialty crop growers facing financial losses. Senator Elissa Slotkin emphasized the bill's importance for Michigan's diverse agriculture, noting it provides $5 billion in direct assistance to ensure a predictable safety net for farmers.
The CHILE Act would require the USDA to use a standardized framework for providing direct aid to specialty crop producers. The legislation seeks $5 billion to address the 'back of the bus' treatment these farmers often receive compared to commodity crop growers during economic disruptions.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
CHILE Act of 2026
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.