February 12, 2026
Mr. Welch (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) 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 and expand the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy grant program.
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 Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Reauthorization Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Rural Innovation Stronger Economy grant program reauthorization and expansion
(a) In general
Section 379I of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008w) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A)(i)—
(I)
by striking the industry clusters that are objectively identified as
; and
(II)
by inserting industries in the area served by the partnership
after declining
; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (B)(ii)—
(I)
by striking subclause (I); and
(II)
by redesignating subclauses (II) through (IV) as subclauses (I) through (III), respectively;
(B)
by striking paragraph (2); and
(C)
by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively;
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately;
(ii)
in clause (ii) (as so redesignated), by striking opportunities, networks, and industry clusters
and inserting opportunities and networks
;
(iii)
by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through The Secretary
in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following:
(1) Grant program
(A) In general
The Secretary; and
(iv)
by adding at the end the following:
(B) Targeted community types
In carrying out the grant program under this paragraph, the Secretary shall—
(i)
target a broad base of rural community types that will benefit from the program, with an emphasis on communities with a population of fewer than 20,000 inhabitants; and
(ii)
of the total amount of grants awarded for each fiscal year, award not less than 10 percent to carry out activities that will benefit rural communities with a population of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants.; and
(B)
in paragraph (3)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A)—
(I)
by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and indenting the subclauses appropriately; and
(II)
in subclause (II) (as so redesignated), by striking industry cluster
;
(ii)
by striking subparagraph (C);
(iii)
in subparagraph (D), by striking industry clusters,
;
(iv)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), (E), and (F) as clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately; and
(v)
in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking shall consider—
and inserting the following:
shall—
(A)
ensure that a diverse set of industry bases is represented;
(B)
only select an eligible entity to receive a grant with the concurrence of the applicable State office of the rural development mission area; and
(C)
take into consideration—;
(3)
in subsection (d)(1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by adding and
after the semicolon at the end; and
(B)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
in clause (i), by striking industry clusters,
;
(ii)
in clause (vii), by striking small businesses in regional industry clusters, including
;
(iii)
in clause (ix), by striking in the identified industry clusters
; and
(iv)
in clause (x), by striking industry cluster
;
(4)
in subsection (e)(2)(B)—
(A)
in clause (viii)—
(i)
in subclause (I), by striking industry cluster
and inserting activities funded with the grant
; and
(ii)
in subclause (II), by striking held by the industry cluster
and inserting relating to those activities convened by relevant organizations
;
(B)
in clauses (xi) and (xii), by striking industry cluster
each place it appears and inserting participating regional
; and
(C)
in clause (xiii), by striking the project activities
and inserting activities funded with the grant
; and
(5)
by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
(f) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
(b) Conforming amendment
Section 6306(h)(3)(B)(ii) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2204b–3(h)(3)(B)(ii)) is amended, in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking section 379I(a)(4) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
and inserting section 379I(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008w(a))
.