12
May
Beyond Pesticides Calls on Congress to Support Bipartisan Organic Legislation
(Beyond Pesticides, May 12, 2025) A growing body of evidence demonstrates the environmental, health, climate, and economic benefits of organic agriculture. With the weakening of pesticide regulation, public health and environmental advocates say that the organic alternative takes on more importance. In this context, Beyond Pesticides and allies are calling on Members of Congress to support a bipartisan wave of legislation aimed at improving the U.S. food system and, specifically, a series of bills that support organic agriculture, including the Organic Science and Research Investment Act (OSRI), S.1385, the New Producer Economic Security Act, S.1237, (previously Increasing Land, Security, and Opportunities Act (LASO), H.R.3955, in 2023-24), the newly-introduced Organic Imports Verification Act (OIVA), S.1398, and the newly-reintroduced Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA) [bill number not assigned at the time of publication].
In April, Senators John Fetterman (PA-D) and Sen. Adam Schiff (CA-D), reintroduced OSRI, S.1385, to ensure “organics research is prioritized at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and [increased] funding for research agencies and universities, [as well as ] provid[ing] much needed support to the organic farming industry.” The bill is cosponsored by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Angus King (I-ME).
The New Producer Economic Security Act is a continuation of the previously introduced Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act by the same cosponsors to build on the over $300 million in funds distributed through USDA’s Increasing Land Access, Capital, and Market Access Program made possible through the American Rescue Plan in 2021. Michelle Hughes, co-executive director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, says, “The bill comprehensively addresses the greatest barriers young and beginning farmers face while elevating local leadership, securing our domestic food system, and delivering material benefits for new producers.” Cosponsors include Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Don Davis (D-NC), Eric Sorenson (D-IL), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM).
OIVA, introduced by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Tim Scott (R-SC), is intended to improve consumer confidence in imported organic goods with support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the ARA as “comprehensive legislation that aims to help the U.S. reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector by 2040—while giving America’s farmers more tools and resources to increase their profitability.” Goals of the ARA include increasing research, improving soil health, protecting existing farmland and supporting farm viability, supporting pasture-based livestock systems, boosting investments in on-farm energy initiatives, and reducing food waste.
Finally, in view of the uncertainty of the funding caused by federal funding freezes and cuts that business leaders say undermine small businesses and domestic supply chains, the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, S.1172/H.R.2396, has been introduced to ensure farmers get paid for previously signed contracts with the USDA.
Tell your Congressional Representative and Senators to cosponsor bills supporting organic agriculture.
Letter to U.S. Representative and Senators:
A growing body of evidence demonstrates the environmental, health, climate, and economic benefits of organic agriculture. As we see more weakening of pesticide regulation, it is increasingly important to support the organic alternative.
Fortunately, the current 119th Congress has brought forth a bipartisan wave of legislation aimed at improving the U.S. food system. The series of bills that support organic agriculture, includes the reintroduction of the Organic Science and Research Investment Act (OSRI), S.1385, the New Producer Economic Security Act, S.1237, (previously Increasing Land, Security, and Opportunities Act (LASO), H.R.3955, in 2023-24), the newly-introduced Organic Imports Verification Act (OIVA), S.1398, and the newly-reintroduced Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA)(bill number not assigned at the time of publication).
In April, Senators John Fetterman (PA-D) and Sen. Adam Schiff (CA-D), reintroduced OSRI, S.1385, to ensure “organics research is prioritized at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and [increased] funding for research agencies and universities, [as well as] provid[ing] much needed support to the organic farming industry.” The bill is cosponsored by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Angus King (I-ME).
The New Producer Economic Security Act is a continuation of the previously introduced Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act by the same cosponsors to build on the over $300 million in funds distributed through USDA’s Increasing Land Access, Capital, and Market Access Program made possible through the American Rescue Plan in 2021. Michelle Hughes, Co-Executive Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, says, “The bill comprehensively addresses the greatest barriers young and beginning farmers face while elevating local leadership, securing our domestic food system, and delivering material benefits for new producers.” Cosponsors include Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Don Davis (D-NC), Eric Sorenson (D-IL), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM).
OIVA, introduced by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Tim Scott (R-SC), is intended to improve consumer confidence in imported organic goods with support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the ARA, as “comprehensive legislation that aims to help the U.S. reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector by 2040—while giving America’s farmers more tools and resources to increase their profitability.” Goals of the ARA include increasing research, improving soil health, protecting existing farmland and supporting farm viability, supporting pasture-based livestock systems, boosting investments in on-farm energy initiatives, and reducing food waste.
Finally, in view of the uncertainty of the funding caused by federal funding freezes and cuts that business leaders say undermine small businesses and domestic supply chains, the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, S.1172/H.R.2396, has been introduced to ensure farmers get paid for previously signed contracts with the USDA.
Please cosponsor the above bills. If you are already a cosponsor, I thank you for your support.
All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.
