House Democrats rolled out new legislation aimed at easing economic pressure on agriculture and consumers, as House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig of Minnesota introduced the Farm and Family Relief Act. Craig described the measure as an effort to deliver meaningful relief to family farmers, while also addressing the broader impacts of inflation and rising costs that Democrats say have been worsened by President Donald Trump’s tariffs and Republican-backed reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
According to Craig, the bill is designed to support both rural producers and families struggling with higher prices across the economy. “Family farmers have been hit hard by tariffs and lost market opportunities,” Craig said when introducing the bill earlier this month. “The Farm and Family Relief Act helps get America back on track by supporting farmers, foresters, and families together and putting an end to the president’s ill-conceived tariffs.”
Democrats point to new data to underscore the urgency of the proposal. A recent report from Joint Economic Committee Democrats found that inflation under President Trump cost the average American family an additional $1,625 over the past year. The report also highlighted continued increases in food costs, noting that fruit and vegetable prices climbed 5.3 percent, while Americans paid $310 more for groceries in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Supporters of the Farm and Family Relief Act argue that addressing trade policy, food costs, and farm income together is critical as producers face tight margins and consumers continue to feel the effects of higher prices at the checkout line. The legislation now enters the broader debate over farm policy, trade, and inflation as Congress considers its next steps.
