H.R. 4400: Farmers First Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Farmers First Act of 2025, proposes amendments to the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, particularly focusing on the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. Here’s a summary of the main points:

Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

The bill seeks to enhance the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network by making several key changes:

• Inclusion of Crisis Lines: The bill will require the network to include crisis lines as part of its services.
• Increased Funding: The bill proposes to increase the funding for the network from $10 million annually (for the fiscal years 2019 to 2023) to $15 million each year for the fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
• Referral Partnerships: The bill allows grant recipients to establish referral relationships with various healthcare providers including:
  • Certified community behavioral health clinics
  • Health centers as defined in Public Health Service Act
  • Rural health clinics
  • Federally qualified health centers
  • Critical access hospitals

These changes are intended to improve access to mental health and substance use treatments and supports for individuals in farming and ranching communities.

Fiscal Implications

The increase in funding is aimed at supporting the expansion and enhancement of mental health services specifically tailored to farmers and ranchers, recognizing the unique stressors faced within these professions.

Scope of Support

The aim of the bill is to provide comprehensive mental health support and wellness resources to help individuals cope with stress, mental health issues, and substance use challenges, ultimately promoting the well-being of those in agricultural sectors.

Administrative Elements

The bill emphasizes collaborative efforts among various health providers to ensure that individuals can access the full range of services they might need for their mental health. This collaborative approach is intended to facilitate a more integrated system of care.

Legislative Process

The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr. Feenstra, along with several co-sponsors, and has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture for further consideration.

Relevant Companies

None found