Overview

Title

To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to establish additional payments for unborn livestock under the livestock indemnity payment program.

ELI5 AI

H.R. 8229 is a plan to give farmers extra money when their baby animals don't make it before they're born, starting from January 1, 2024. The amount of money they get is decided by a special farm helper in charge, but it can't be too much compared to what's given for the smallest animals.

Summary AI

H.R. 8229 aims to modify the Agricultural Act of 2014 by introducing additional payments for unborn livestock under the livestock indemnity payment program. This bill mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to provide extra compensation to qualifying farmers who experience losses of unborn livestock beyond usual mortality rates as of January 1, 2024. The payment rate is determined by the Secretary and cannot exceed 85% of the rate for the lowest weight class of livestock, with specific calculations based on the type of livestock involved. Unborn livestock death losses refer to the losses of livestock that were gestating at the time of death.

Published

2024-05-02
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-05-02
Package ID: BILLS-118hr8229ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
541
Pages:
3
Sentences:
17

Language

Nouns: 153
Verbs: 30
Adjectives: 29
Adverbs: 0
Numbers: 24
Entities: 27

Complexity

Average Token Length:
3.89
Average Sentence Length:
31.82
Token Entropy:
4.57
Readability (ARI):
15.98

AnalysisAI

Summary of the Bill

The proposed bill, H.R. 8229, titled the "Livestock Indemnity Program Enhancement Act of 2024," seeks to amend the existing Agricultural Act of 2014. Specifically, the bill introduces provisions for additional payments under the Livestock Indemnity Payment (LIP) program for the loss of unborn livestock. If enacted, the Secretary of Agriculture would provide financial compensation to farmers for losses of unborn animals starting from January 1, 2024, under certain conditions that exceed normal mortality rates.

Significant Issues

One of the major concerns with the bill is the discretion it grants the Secretary of Agriculture to determine payment rates for the additional compensation. This could lead to a lack of transparency in how these rates are set, which might cause potential bias or favoritism. Such a scenario could be particularly disadvantageous to smaller farms, which may not have as much influence as larger farming operations.

Additionally, the bill specifies that payments should be "less than or equal to 85 percent of the payment rate established with respect to the lowest weight class of the livestock." This phrase is somewhat vague as it does not provide a clear criterion for defining the “lowest weight class,” which could lead to inconsistency and misunderstandings.

The complexity arises further with the calculation method for payment amounts, which uses multipliers based on livestock types. This method could be challenging to interpret, potentially resulting in disputes or errors in payment processing. There is also no explicit definition of what constitutes “normal mortality,” which could further complicate the application process for the farmers.

Lastly, the definition of "unborn livestock death losses" relies on multiple subparagraphs, adding to the complexity and possibly leading to confusion about eligibility and qualifications for the payments.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, the bill aims to support farmers by providing financial relief in cases where unborn livestock are lost, which is beneficial as it supports agricultural resilience and economic stability for farming businesses. By addressing losses that impact a farmer's potential future revenue, the bill could help mitigate some of the financial uncertainties involved in livestock farming.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

The bill's impact on specific stakeholders varies. For farmers, particularly those who heavily depend on livestock, this bill could offer much-needed relief and support when they face unfortunate losses of unborn animals. This financial support can help alleviate some of the economic burden and keep their farms operational during difficult times.

However, without clear guidelines and transparent procedures for establishing payment rates and criteria for loss definitions, smaller farms might find themselves at a disadvantage compared to larger farms. These smaller entities could lack resources to leverage influence over decision-making processes or may struggle with the complexities of the billing system as proposed.

In summary, while H.R. 8229 endeavors to fortify the financial defense mechanisms for farmers, especially in the context of unforeseen losses, it also necessitates greater clarity and transparency in its implementation to ensure equitable support across varying farm sizes and types.

Issues

  • The determination of the payment rate for additional payments under Sec. 2, subparagraph (B) is left to the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture. This could potentially lead to a lack of transparency in how these rates are set, possibly introducing bias or favoritism, which would be concerning to stakeholders such as smaller farms. This Secretary-determined rate may also lack the necessary oversight to ensure fairness.

  • The wording in Sec. 2, subparagraph (B) '

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section provides the short title for the Act, stating that it may be referred to as the “Livestock Indemnity Program Enhancement Act of 2024” or the “LIP Enhancement Act of 2024.”

2. Additional payment for unborn livestock Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The bill proposes that starting January 1, 2024, farmers who experience the loss of unborn animals due to certain conditions will receive additional financial support. The payment amount will depend on the predetermined rate and the type of livestock that was lost.