H.R. 6496 — Specialty Crop & Wine Producer Tariff Relief Act

This section establishes a direct payment program, to be implemented by the Secretary of Agriculture not later than 180 days after enactment, to compensate specialty crop growers (i.e., producers of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, and wine grapes) and wine producers for covered losses—including increased production and marketing costs, reduced exports, lost revenue, and reduced market access due to increased tariff burdens imposed by other countries on or after January 20, 2025—with administration substantially similar to the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops program under section 5(e) of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c(e)), which provides payments to expand domestic consumption of specialty crops. The section further authorizes the Secretary to purchase surplus specialty crops (other than wine grapes) for distribution through nutrition assistance programs (e.g., school breakfast and lunch programs, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program); requires reporting to Congress, organized by crop and region, beginning 120 days after first exercising these authorities and annually through 2030; authorizes appropriations of such sums as necessary for FY2026 through FY2030; and limits administrative costs to 1% of available funds.