SAMDT 3115 — To prohibit funds from being used for reorganization of the Department of Agriculture and to require a benefit-cost analysis on that reorganization, a public comment period, and a report.

AMENDS

AMENDMENT PROGRESS

STEP 3 OF 3

Proposed

Considered

Disposed

Proposed
Considered
Disposed

DISPOSITION

FAILED

AUG 1, 2025

“Amendment SA 3115 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 42 - 53. Record Vote Number: 474.”

what this changes

This amendment would have blocked the Department of Agriculture from using its budget to restructure its offices until it completed a detailed study on the costs and benefits. It also would have required the department to allow public feedback and provide a formal report to Congress before any reorganization could happen.

WHY IT MATTERS

Government reorganizations often involve moving hundreds of jobs to different states or changing how programs are managed; this amendment was an attempt to slow that process down and ensure the public and Congress could review the impact first.

WHO IS AFFECTED

Employees of the Department of Agriculture and the farmers or citizens who rely on the specific local office structures of the USDA would have been most impacted.

AMENDS

HR 3944RESOLVING DIFFERENCES

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL

KEY POINTS

low

Funding Restriction

It would have prevented any money in the bill from being used to pay for the logistics of moving or restructuring USDA departments.

low

Benefit-Cost Analysis

This would have forced the government to prove that a reorganization would actually save money or improve service before it could proceed.

low

Public Participation

It would have required a public comment period, giving citizens a chance to weigh in on how changes to the department might affect their communities.

GLOSSARY

Reorganization: A major change in the internal structure, hierarchy, or physical location of a government department.
Benefit-cost analysis: A study that compares the expected costs of a project against the expected benefits to determine if it is a good investment.
Public comment period: A specific timeframe during which the public can submit feedback or concerns about a proposed government rule or action.

Official sources

SAMDT 3115 on Congress.gov

This analysis used: Amendment purpose · Latest action

ACTION TIMELINE

7 EVENTS

AUG 1, 25

Amendment SA 3115 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 42 - 53. Record Vote Number: 474.

FLOOR

AUG 1, 25

Amendment SA 3115 proposed by Senator Van Hollen to Amendment SA 3411. (consideration: CR S5193-5194) To prohibit funds from being used for reorganization of the Department of Agriculture and to require a benefit-cost analysis on that reorganization, a public comment period, and a report.

FLOOR

AUG 1, 25

Senate amendment proposed (on the floor): Amendment SA 3115 proposed by Senator Van Hollen to Amendment SA 3411.

FLOOR

AUG 1, 25

Senate amendment not agreed to: Amendment SA 3115 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 42 - 53. Record Vote Number: 474.

FLOOR

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To prohibit funds from being used for reorganization of the Department of Agriculture and to require a benefit-cost analysis on that reorganization, a public comment period, and a report.

AMENDS

SUMMARY

KEY POINTS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

AMENDMENT INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

To prohibit funds from being used for reorganization of the Department of Agriculture and to require a benefit-cost analysis on that reorganization, a public comment period, and a report.

AMENDS

AMENDMENT PROGRESS