Agriculture bill removes cost-sharing requirement for crop research grants
H.R. 3656 — To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to waive the matching funds requirement under the specialty crop research initiative, and for other purposes. · Filed by Kim Schrier (D-WA) · 14 cosponsors · Introduced May 29, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to waive the requirement that recipients of specialty crop research grants match federal funds with their own money. Currently, grant recipients must contribute matching funds; this bill gives the Secretary discretion to waive that requirement for grants awarded after the bill's enactment.
Why we flagged it
The bill functionally expands federal subsidy by removing a cost-sharing requirement, allowing the Secretary to fund specialty crop research entirely with taxpayer money rather than requiring recipient co-investment.
What the text implies
- Removes a mechanism that previously ensured research recipients had skin in the game; may reduce incentive for recipients to select high-impact projects or manage grants efficiently.
- Shifts entire matching-fund burden to federal taxpayers; the effective cost per grant to the government increases unless total grant volume is reduced.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
specialty crop research institutions; agricultural universities and research centers; agricultural nonprofits conducting crop research