H.R.5804 – Providing Robust Organics and Diets for Urban Communities Everywhere Act

Introduced in House 10/21/2025 by Representative Jodey Arrington (D-NJ8)

As the Republican Candidate for a mostly Rural and partly Urban District, I find this bill to be interesting and I really hope to get some feedback on it from both Conventional (rural) and urban farmers in the district.

This very simple Bill extends what appears to be a very simple “Act” and Federal entity (Section 222 of 7 U.S.C. 6923) to the year 2030 and doubling its financial allotment. However, I have some questions and issues…

• Do you think that it is acceptable for any sitting Congress to commit the country to a 5 year financial and regulatory burden?
  • Congress Members only serve a 2 year term. Do you think that it is reasonable and acceptable for a sitting Congress to force its will on the people after it leaves office?
• It can be said that the commitment is ‘only” $50,000,000 per year. That is a relatively small amount of the entire budget, but it all adds up. My issue is that this is consistent within the system, and therefore this question, however small, applies to a very large portion of Federal spending.
• This Act mandates the creation of an Advisory Committee with all members serving for the full 5 year term of the Act. Do you think that it is reasonable and acceptable for a Federal Organization appointed by a given Congress to have a fixed Advisory Committee that spans several Congressional Sessions?
• The “Mission” of this Federal entity is “… to encourage and promote urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural practices…” including a number of urban farming techniques and commercial enterprises that are not fully proven to be effective, viable and profitable. What is you opinion on the effectiveness, viability and profitability urban farming technologies?
  • community gardens and farms located in urban areas, suburbs, and urban clusters;
  • rooftop farms, outdoor vertical production, and green walls;
  • indoor farms, greenhouses, and high-tech vertical technology farms;
  • hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic farm facilities; and
  • other innovations in agricultural production, as determined by the Secretary.

What do you think?
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