January 16, 2026
Mr. Panetta (for himself and Mr. Feenstra) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to extend and permanently authorize the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Advancing Cutting Edge Agriculture Act
or the ACE Agriculture Act
.
Sec. 2. Reauthorization of AGARDA
Section 1473H of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319k) is amended—
(1)
in the section heading, by striking pilot
;
(2)
in subsection (a)(6), by striking growing,
and inserting growing (including water conservation technologies and innovation),
;
(3)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking pilot
;
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
(B)
to overcome the long term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of agricultural technologies, research tools, and qualified products and projects that enhance export competitiveness, environmental sustainability, water conservation, the reduction, avoidance, sequestration, or mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, and resilience to extreme weather, drought, infectious diseases, plant and animal pathogens, and plant and animal pests; ; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (D), by inserting or economic cost
after financial uncertainty
;
(C)
in paragraph (3)(B)—
(i)
in clause (ii), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking advise the Chief Scientist on, and
; and
(ii)
by amending clause (iii) to read as follows:
(iii) Relationship within the department of agriculture
(I) Chief scientist
The Director shall report to the Chief Scientist.
(II) Other programs
No other official who is the head of any other program of the Department of Agriculture shall report to the Director.;
(D)
in paragraph (6), by striking pilot
each place it appears in subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
(E)
by amending paragraph (9) to read as follows:
(9) Personnel matters
(A) In general
The Director shall establish and maintain within the AGARDA a staff with sufficient qualifications and expertise to enable the AGARDA to carry out the responsibilities of the AGARDA under this section in conjunction with other operations of the Department of Agriculture.
(B) Use of existing personnel authorities
In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may appoint highly qualified individuals to scientific or professional positions on the same terms and conditions as provided in subsections (b)(3), (b)(4), (c), (d), (e), and (f) of section 620 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7657). ;
(4)
in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
(4) Use of strategic plan
The Secretary shall use the strategic plan developed under paragraph (1) to inform the administration of the AGARDA under this section.;
(5)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (C);
(B)
in paragraph (3), by striking $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023
and inserting $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032
; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(4) Other funding
In addition to amounts otherwise made available to carry out this section, the Secretary may use to carry out this section other funds available to the Secretary for any other purpose.
(5) Clarification
Nothing in paragraph (2) or (4) authorizes the use of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section. ; and
(6)
by striking subsection (e).