H.R. 2918: Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-04-30 · Agriculture and Food · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-04-30 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act

Plain summary

Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to undertake rulemaking and other activities to implement certain recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board (a federal advisory board that considers and makes recommendations concerning the production, handling, and processing of organic products). Specifically, USDA must issue within a specified time line final rules for implementing recommendations approved (1) by the board between December 31, 2000, and the date of the bill's enactment; and (2) with at least two-thirds of the votes cast at a meeting where a quorum was present. If USDA determines issuing rules for such recommendations is not practicable, it must identify and report to Congress about the specific constraints that preclude rulemaking. In addition, the bill sets out a process and time line for USDA to implement through rulemaking future recommendations of the board that are approved by at least two-thirds of the votes cast at a meeting where a quorum was present. The bill also requires state officials or entities that certify organic farms or handling operations to report annually concerning the implementation of and compliance with any new rule or guidance.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] · 24 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Young Kim (R-CA), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Quorum: The minimum number of members who must be present for a body to do official business.
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr2918.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr2918 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117