Eugene Vindman

Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2025

This bill temporarily allows additional hospitals to qualify as critical access hospitals (CAHs) that receive special payment under Medicare.

Currently, in order to qualify as a CAH under Medicare, a hospital must either (1) be located more than 35 miles (or 15 miles in mountainous regions or areas with only secondary roads) from another hospital, or (2) have been certified prior to January 1, 2006, by the state as a necessary provider of services in the area.

The bill allows a hospital to also qualify if the hospital is a small, rural hospital that (1) serves a health professional shortage area, or a high number of low-income individuals or Medicare beneficiaries; (2) has experienced financial losses for two consecutive years; and (3) attests to having a strategic plan to address financial solvency and to committing to provide a service that is in high demand in the hospital's service area. This authority expires nine years after the bill's enactment.

The Government Accountability Office must study the effects of the bill's implementation. In addition, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must study and recommend payment systems for rural hospitals under Medicare. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must subsequently establish a mechanism and issue guidance on how newly designated CAHs may transition to different payment models under Medicare, including any new payment models recommended by the commission.

Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025

This bill expands Department of Agriculture (USDA) support for organic agricultural research.

USDA must establish the Coordinating and Expanding Organic Research Initiative for USDA resources dedicated to organic agricultural research. Every five years, the initiative must survey USDA's organic agricultural research and produce a report, including findings and recommendations on expanding research and increasing project coordination and effectiveness. USDA must take the findings and recommendations into consideration when preparing USDA's annual budget recommendations.

In carrying out its work, the initiative must consult with the National Organic Standards Board and land-grant colleges and universities. In preparing each report, the initiative must consult organic and conventional farmers, ranchers, handlers and the organizations that serve them.

The bill also reauthorizes the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative through FY2030 and increases funding for the initiative. Further, eligible grant projects are expanded to include (1) facilitating the identification and adoption of traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices, and (2) identifying how organic agriculture can adapt to and mitigate climate change.

The bill also reauthorizes, and extends funding for, USDA's organic production and market data initiatives through FY2030. The Economic Research Service must conduct an economic impact analysis of organic agricultural management conducted in accordance with the National Organic Program.

USDA may make competitive grants to support research, education, and extension activities relating to the transition from nonorganic production systems into organic agricultural production systems.

If You See It, Squish It Act of 2025

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to carry out a national campaign to increase public awareness and knowledge of the spotted lanternfly. This invasive plant hopper feeds on a wide range of plants, including grapevines, hops, stone fruit trees, and hardwood trees.

Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local Foods Act of 2025 or the LOCAL Foods Act of 2025

This bill provides statutory authority for expanding the personal use exemption from inspection requirements for livestock that are slaughtered and prepared by the owner or at custom animal slaughter facilities for meat products intended for personal consumption.

Under current law, the personal use exemption from certain Food Safety and Inspection Service meat inspection requirements applies to a person who raises an animal and slaughters the animal exclusively for personal, household, guest, or employee uses.

The bill applies the exemption to any person who meets these requirements and is the owner of an animal, in whole or in part. This allows for an animal to have multiple owners (e.g., a community or a group of people buying shares in livestock).

Further, the owner may designate an agent to assist in the slaughter, preparation, or transportation of the carcasses (or parts thereof) or meat and meat food products. If the owner designates an agent, the owner must maintain custody and specific identification of the carcasses or meat.

Farm Credit Adjustment Act

This bill allows the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) to examine low-risk Farm Credit System institutions every 24 months. Specifically, FCA has the sole discretion to extend the currently mandated 18-month examination period for all institutions to 24 months for low-risk institutions.

FCA regulates the Farm Credit System, which is a network of borrower-owned lending institutions that operates as a government-sponsored enterprise and makes loans to creditworthy farmers.

Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia Federal Recognition Act

This bill extends federal recognition to the Patawomeck Indian Tribe.

Specifically, the bill makes the tribe and its members eligible for services and benefits provided to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe. The service area of the tribe is considered to be Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George Counties, Virginia.

Next, the bill sets forth requirements for the tribe regarding its membership roll, governing documents, and governing body.

Interior, upon the request of the tribe, may take certain land into trust for the benefit of the tribe.

Further, the bill prohibits the tribe from conducting gaming activities.