HR 2307 Summary — Commission on National Agricultural Statistics Service Modernization
Purpose and intent
- Establish a temporary, independent Commission to study the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and propose modernization of data collection and reporting.
- Goals include improving data quality, accounting for national/regional/local production differences, accelerating adoption of new technologies to reduce surveys, reducing survey fatigue, increasing transparency and stakeholder collaboration, leveraging real-time environmental data, and improving data on specialty crops.
Key provisions and changes
- Commission mandate (subsection b):
- Conduct a study of NASS and provide recommendations on modernization and streamlined data collection.
- Assess how modernization can be implemented and estimate associated costs.
- Scope of modernization (subsection b(1)):
- Improve quality of statistics.
- Address differences among national, regional, and local production.
- Accelerate adoption of new technologies to reduce survey load.
- Improve producer response rates and reduce survey fatigue.
- Increase transparency and confidence through stakeholder collaboration.
- Integrate real-time data with survey data.
- Improve data collection for specialty crops.
- Implementation and cost (subsection b(2)): Provide recommendations for how modernization can be implemented and the estimated costs.
- Commission composition (subsection c):
- 11 members total:
- Administrator, NASS (ex officio)
- Administrator, Economic Research Service (ERS)
- Chief Economist, USDA
- Chair, World Agricultural Outlook Board (USDA)
- Representative from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Three Senate appointees (one by Chair, one by Ranking Member, one jointly)
- Three House appointees (one by Chair, one by Ranking Member, one jointly)
- Appointment process (subsection c(2)-(3)):
- All members appointed within 60 days after enactment.
- Members serve for the duration of the Commission; vacancies do not impair powers and are filled by the original appointment method.
- Meeting and governance (subsection c(4)-(5)):
- Initial meeting within 60 days after all members are appointed.
- Majority of members constitutes a quorum; hearings may be held with fewer.
- Chair elected by a majority vote of the Commission.
- Reporting deadline (subsection f):
- Within 2 years of enactment, the Commission must deliver a report to the President and the relevant House/Senate Agriculture committees.
- Report to include: inventory of NASS surveys and their frequencies; recommended admin/regulatory/legislative changes.
- Stakeholder engagement and information access (subsections h, i):
- Establish a process to collect feedback from agricultural stakeholders.
- Seek and obtain information from federal agencies as needed; heads of agencies shall provide requested information.
- Administrative support and process (subsections j-k):
- Commission may use federal mail; USDA Secretary to provide appropriate office space and administrative support.
- Compensation (subsection l):
- Non-federal members: daily rate equal to the equivalent of Executive Schedule level IV.
- Federal employees: serve without additional pay beyond their federal compensation.
- Travel and per diem for duties away from home.
- Legal protections and termination (subsections m-n):
- Certain restrictions under 5 U.S.C. sections 1008 and 1013 do not apply to the Commission.
- Termination date: September 30, 2030.
- Funding (subsection o):
- Authorized appropriation of $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, available until expended.
Status and legislative actions
- Introduced: March 24, 2025.
- Reported/referred: House Committee on Agriculture (March 24, 2025); Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology (April 18, 2025).
- Sponsors: Barry Moore (primary); cosponsors Donald G. Davis and John W. Rose.
Potential impact
- Creates a structured, time-limited review of NASS data collection and reporting with an emphasis on modernization, efficiency, and transparency.
- Could lead to reduced survey burden, expanded use of real-time/environmental data, and enhanced data quality for policymakers, producers, and researchers.
- Results may drive administrative, regulatory, or legislative changes recommended by the Commission.
