To amend the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to provide for seasonal and perishable programs, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8525 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8525 To amend the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to provide for seasonal and perishable programs, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 27, 2026 Mr. Ruiz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to provide for seasonal and perishable programs, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SEASONAL AND PERISHABLE PROGRAMS. The Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (Public Law 108- 465) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``TITLE V--SEASONAL AND PERISHABLE PROGRAMS ``SEC. 501. SEASONAL AND PERISHABLE CROP LOSS PROGRAM. ``(a) Seasonal and Perishable Crop Loss.-- ``(1) In general.--Beginning with marketing year 2027, and each year thereafter, with respect to a producer of a seasonal and perishable crop in a geographic region described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall make annual crop loss payments in accordance with this section if the Secretary determines that-- ``(A) the effective price for the seasonal and perishable crop for such marketing year is less than the reference price for such crop; and ``(B) the crop loss described in subparagraph (A) is caused by imports of the seasonal and perishable crop. ``(2) Geographic coverage.--Geographic coverage described in this paragraph refers to coverage of a geographic region in the United States-- ``(A) in which a seasonable and perishable commodity is grown within a seasonal marketing window; and ``(B) for which an annual normal harvest and shipment of such seasonal a