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H.R. 3685: JUST Act of 2025
119th Congress · introduced 2025-06-03 · Agriculture and Food · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
federal
Official title
JUST Act of 2025
Plain summary
Just USDA Standards and Transparency Act of 2025 or the JUST Act of 2025 This bill increases Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversight and enforcement of civil rights-related violations and actions. USDA must take appropriate corrective action regarding any USDA official or employee who engages in certain discriminatory actions, retaliatory actions, harassment, or civil rights violations (e.g., failure to provide appropriate information regarding relevant USDA programs and services). A corrective action (1) is any action that would enhance civil rights at USDA, including policy or programmatic changes; and (2) may include disciplinary actions (e.g., removal from federal service or a letter of reprimand). The bill shifts the burden of proof from a farmer or rancher to USDA in an appeal to the USDA National Appeals Division. Specifically, USDA must prove by substantial evidence the validity of a USDA adverse decision. Further, a farmer or rancher who fails to comply fully with the requirements to receive a loan may be eligible for equitable relief if the USDA determines the individual made a good faith effort to comply with the loan requirements. The bill also directs USDA to establish an Office of the Legal Advisor for Civil Rights and Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson; creates the required position of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights (currently an optional USDA position); and allows the Assistant Secretary to grant relief, without prior approval, to farmers or ranchers who file certain civil rights complaints, including complaints regarding direct farm ownership, operating, or emergency loans.
Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
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Officials and money
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] · 2 cosponsors
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Words on this page, explained (2)
- Appropriation
- Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
- 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).
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-119hr3685.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr>
Record fed-us-cong119-hr3685 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills