Disaster Relief for Farmworkers Act of 2024

In this section:

The term covered disaster means—

(A) an adverse weather event, such as a drought, wildfire, earthquake, hurricane, flood, derecho, excessive heat, tornado, winter storm, freeze, hail, polar vortex, smoke exposure, or excessive moisture;

(B) an unexpected health crisis, such as a pandemic; and

(C) such other event or condition—

(i) that has caused farmworkers to lose income, be unable to work, or stay home or return home in anticipation of work shortages; or

(ii) as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

The term eligible farmworker organization means an organization that is—

(A) a farmworker membership-based organization; or

(B) an organization—

(i) described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code; and

(ii) that has experience in providing support or relief services to farmworkers, including migrant or seasonal farmworkers.

The term migrant or seasonal farmworker means an individual—

(A) who has, during any consecutive 12-month period within the preceding 24-month period, performed farm work for wages; and

(B) who has received not less than ½ of such individual’s total income from, or been employed at least ½ of such individual's total work time in, farm work.

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

For fiscal year 2024 and each succeeding fiscal year, during any period for which the Secretary determines there is a covered disaster, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Rural Development, shall make grants to eligible farmworker organizations to provide emergency relief to farmworkers affected by that covered disaster.

An eligible farmworker organization may use funds received pursuant to a grant awarded under subsection (b)—

(1) to provide emergency relief (including through direct distribution of funding) to farmworkers to address loss and damage due to the covered disaster;

(2) to build capacity to provide emergency relief described in paragraph (1);

(3) to build resiliency in farmworker communities to address future losses and damages due to covered disasters;

(4) to provide infrastructure support, including shelter; and

(5) to provide emergency services (including such types of assistance as the Secretary determines to be appropriate) to farmworkers in response to the covered disaster.

Any funds provided to an eligible farmworker organization under this section shall remain available until expended.

The Secretary shall—

(1) before making grants under subsection (b), develop a promotional plan; and

(2) carry out that promotional plan throughout the distribution of those grants.

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with eligible farmworker organizations.