Bills · HR 3685
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 3685Agriculture and Food
JUST Act of 2025
INTRO JUN 3· LAST ACTION JUN 3
READING
10MIN
COSPONSORS
2
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it aims to make a crucial government agency, the USDA, more fair and responsive to all Americans, especially those who rely on its programs for support or livelihood. If this bill becomes law, it could mean that individuals, particularly farmers, ranchers, and rural residents, who have historically faced discrimination when applying for USDA services, would have a clearer and more powerful avenue for justice and resolution.
Currently, concerns about civil rights enforcement within the USDA have sometimes led to mistrust and a perception of uneven access to programs. This bill seeks to address that by strengthening accountability for misconduct, empowering the civil rights leadership, and providing a direct path for victims to receive relief. Without this bill, the current system for addressing civil rights complaints and ensuring accountability for discriminatory actions within the USDA might remain less robust, potentially allowing existing inequities to persist and making it harder for affected individuals to get a fair hearing or recourse.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires corrective action for USDA employees found to have committed civil rights misconduct, including specific failures like not providing service receipts or delaying program services.
This provision creates a clear directive for the USDA to hold employees accountable for discriminatory or unfair actions, which can directly improve how citizens interact with the department.
PROVISION 02
Elevates the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights to a Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed position, enhancing the role's authority and independence within the department.
Making the top civil rights official a Senate-confirmed appointee ensures higher-level oversight and commitment to civil rights enforcement, potentially increasing public trust in the office.
PROVISION 03
Establishes an Office of Legal Advisor for Civil Rights that reports directly to the Assistant Secretary and does not represent the USDA in discrimination claims.
This creates an independent legal voice focused solely on civil rights compliance and investigations, free from potential conflicts of interest with the department's defense needs.
PROVISION 04
Grants the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights the authority to provide "equitable relief" (like program eligibility) to individuals who file civil rights complaints, without requiring prior approval from other USDA officials.
This empowers the civil rights office to directly and independently help victims of discrimination by restoring access to benefits, potentially speeding up resolution for complainants.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 2
D· Illinois
YRS IN OFFICE
3
BILLS LED
8
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 2 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJUN 3
Introduced in House
JUN 3
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 3685
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJun 3, 2025
Last actionJun 3, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JUN 3, 2025
House BillHR 3685Agriculture and Food
JUST Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JUN 3, 2025· LAST ACTION JUN 3, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
10 min
COSPONSORS
2
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
