To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to support the expansion of freight rail infrastructure to support the transport of agricultural inputs and products to farms, and for other purposes.
The Freight for Farms Act would expand a federal loan and grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to include freight rail infrastructure projects that support agricultural operations. Currently, the program provides funding for essential community facilities in rural areas, but this bill would explicitly add railroad infrastructure that helps farmers access markets and agricultural services to the list of eligible projects. The legislation applies existing federal railroad safety and planning requirements to these new agricultural rail projects and would take effect 60 days after the bill becomes law. The bill was introduced in May 2024 by three House members and referred to the Agriculture Committee, but does not specify new funding amounts for these rail infrastructure projects.
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