{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/fettermans-agriculture-priorities-in-senate-session-deliver-wins-for-farmers-rural-communities-and-union-workers/", "Fetterman\u2019s Agriculture Priorities in Senate Session Deliver Wins for Farmers, Rural Communities, and Union Workers", "2023-08-03", "2023", "2023-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "PA", "John Fetterman", "F000479", "www.fetterman.senate.gov", "fetterman", "https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/press-release/", "scraper", "BRADDOCK, PA \u2013 Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman wrapped up a busy Senate session last week, during which he delivered several wins for farmers and the agricultural economy.\n\nSenator Fetterman introduced the following pieces of legislation that would secure funding; make programmatic reforms; and invest in urban agriculture, organics research, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).\n\nThe Organic Science and Research Investment Act:\n\nRequires USDA\u2019s research agencies to better coordinate on organic research and extension.\n\nEnsures USDA considers organic research priorities in its budget justification to Congress.\n\nRequires USDA to study the feasibility of certifying more research land as organic.\n\nIncreases mandatory funding for the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), which supplies grants to universities and other organizations for organics research.\n\nBuilds on the administration\u2019s organic research work by creating a statutory grant program studying producers\u2019 decisions to transition to organic production.\n\nThe Food Secure Strikers Act of 2023:\n\nRepeals the restriction on striking workers from receiving SNAP and affirmatively protect the eligibility of striking workers to receive SNAP.\n\nProtects public sector workers who are fired for striking from being \u201cconsidered to have voluntarily quit for eligibility purposes.\n\nClarifies that any income-eligible household can receive SNAP benefits regardless of if a member of that household is involved in a strike.\n\nUnites two major issues \u2013 expanding SNAP and protecting organized labor \u2013 that Senator Fetterman is championing for working people.\n\nThe Poultry Grower Fairness Act:\n\nGrants USDA administrative enforcement authority over live poultry dealers.\n\nDirects courts to award \u201creasonable attorney\u2019s fees when poultry and livestock farmers prevail in lawsuits against the companies with whom they contract for animals and feed.\n\nExtends the protections of the Packers and Stockyards Act to the growers of breeder hens and pullets.\n\nHelps small poultry farmers and fights corporate consolidation in the agriculture business.\n\nThe Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2023:\n\nSupports the growth of urban and suburban farmers through increased programmatic and research funding.\n\nMakes programmatic reforms to the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) to improve the content and delivery of technical assistance to urban and innovative producers.\n\nEnables cooperative agreements with community experts.\n\nIncreases access to grant funds directly to farmers.\n\nScales up composting and food waste initiatives.\n\nCombats food deserts and malnutrition in urban areas and supports small, beginning, and underserved farmers.\n\nWhen Congress returns to Washington in September, Senator Fetterman will continue championing these issues and delivering wins for PA and the nation, particularly through his work on the Farm Bill as a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Chair of the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:31:44Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/fettermans-agriculture-priorities-in-senate-session-deliver-wins-for-farmers-rural-communities-and-union-workers/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1407150886952877, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}