§2. Agricultural research facilities
This section states congressional findings that agriculture contributed $1.109 trillion (5.2% of GDP) and 22.2 million jobs (10.9% of employment) in 2019; the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) provides over $1.7 billion annually in research funding; and deferred maintenance needs at U.S. schools of agriculture total $11.5 billion (up from $8.4 billion in 2015), with replacement costs of $38.1 billion.
This section requires the Secretary, prior to evaluating proposals for agricultural research facilities, to review them in consultation with NIFA peer review panel representatives. (Thus, the 90-day process now includes three steps: review, merits evaluation against criteria such as 50% non-Federal matching funds and national priorities, and reporting to congressional agriculture committees.)
This section replaces the existing grants authority with a competitive NIFA grant program to fund the federal share of costs to construct, alter, acquire, modernize, renovate, or remodel agricultural research facilities or necessary equipment. The Secretary may waive the 50% non-Federal share to provide up to 100% federal funding case-by-case; grants must prioritize equitable geographic, institutional, disciplinary, and size-based distribution; and no more than 20% of funds may go to projects in any one state.
This section provides mandatory Treasury transfers of $500 million on October 1, 2025, and each October 1 through 2029 (totaling $2.5 billion), available until expended, and authorizes $1 billion annually for FY2026 through FY2030, also available until expended. (As background, the Research Facilities Act supports grants to nonfederal entities such as colleges and universities for agricultural research infrastructure addressing national and multistate needs.)