October 30, 2025
Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mrs. Fischer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to reauthorize rural cooperative development grants.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act
.
Sec. 2. Reauthorization of rural cooperative development grants
Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
(B)
by inserting before subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated) the following:
(A) Cooperative development
The term cooperative development means activities, including outreach, education, training, and technical assistance, to support the startup, expansion, or ongoing sustainability of new and existing cooperatives.;
(2)
in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), in the second sentence, by inserting , and award maximum points in scoring criteria to applicants that satisfy the requirements of paragraph (5)(F),
before if the plan
;
(3)
in paragraph (6)(B), by striking If the Secretary determines it to be in the best interest of the program, the
and inserting The
;
(4)
in paragraph (10)—
(A)
by striking The Secretary
and inserting the following:
(A) In general
The Secretary; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following:
(B) Analysis
The Secretary shall—
(i)
analyze the data resulting from the research conducted under subparagraph (A); and
(ii)
include the data and the analysis described in clause (i) in the annual report submitted by the interagency working group under paragraph (12).;
(5)
in paragraph (12)—
(A)
by striking Not later
and inserting the following:
(A) In general
Not later; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following:
(B) Annual reports
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, and annually thereafter, the interagency working group described in subparagraph (A) shall submit to Congress a report describing the activities carried out by the interagency working group.; and
(6)
in paragraph (13), by striking 2014 through 2023
and inserting 2025 through 2029
.