U.S. Sen. John Fetterman co-sponsored the CHILE Act, aiming to deliver $5 billion in direct assistance to specialty crop producers for the 2027 fiscal year, while tying USDA aid to an emergency framework already included in the 2026 farm bill passed by the Hou
John Fetterman didn’t just draft another farm bill. He put a specific price tag on it — $5 billion — and pinned the money to a 2027 timeline for specialty crop growers.
The Pennsylvania senator co-sponsored the Cultivating Horticultural Innovation in Local Economies (CHILE) Act. a proposal designed to expand federal protections for specialty crop producers by building on the Farm. Food. and National Security Act of 2026. That earlier farm bill already cleared the U.S. House earlier this year. and the new measure would link how federal aid is delivered to a specialty-crop emergency framework inside it.
Fetterman introduced the CHILE Act on June 24 alongside U.S. Sens. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan; Ben Ray Luján, D-New Mexico; Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia; Cory Booker, D-New Jersey; and Michael Bennet, D-Colorado.
“Pennsylvania farmers help put food on our tables, create local jobs and keep our agricultural economy moving. Having a framework that allows them to get the direct assistance they need is just one step in safeguarding farmers in times of economic loss. ” Fetterman said in a press release. “I’m proud to support this legislation that would strengthen federal support allowing these specialty crop farmers to have the funding and tools they need to help succeed today and everyday.”.
If the CHILE Act becomes law, it would direct $5 billion in direct assistance to specialty crop producers for the 2027 fiscal year. The bill also requires the definition of specialty crops to include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops and floriculture.
The bill’s structure matters. It is built to work through the Farm Bill’s existing emergency assistance approach, not as a one-off program. Specifically. the CHILE Act would require the USDA to use the Farm Bill’s Specialty Crop Emergency Assistance Framework when it sends direct aid to specialty crop farmers.
At the center of the current policy fight is the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which the U.S. House passed by a 224-200 vote in April. Introduced in the U.S. House on Feb. 13, the bill later moved to the Senate, where it was received on May 19 — but has seen no action since.
The final House-passed version removed a pesticide provision backed by President Donald Trump that would have shielded pesticide companies from liability.
For growers, the timeline attached to all of this is the practical pressure point. The CHILE Act is aimed at getting direct help to specialty crop producers in the 2027 fiscal year. and it seeks to make that assistance flow through a framework created inside the farm bill lawmakers already started moving.
The legislative movement also lands amid political uncertainty around Fetterman’s next steps. Pennsylvania Democratic Party chairman Eugene DePasquale addressed speculation about Fetterman potentially switching parties on Wednesday in Erie — a day before Fetterman ruled out a party switch.
John Fetterman CHILE Act specialty crop producers USDA $5 billion 2027 fiscal year Farm Food and National Security Act of 2026 H.R. 7567 Eugene DePasquale Pennsylvania agriculture