Direct Payments Available for Producers in the 12th District
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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced up to $10 billion in direct payments to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. Administered by the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), these payments are designed to help mitigate the impacts of rising input costs and declining commodity prices.
This emergency assistance is intended to pay down debt associated with the 2024 crop to allow our producers to more easily obtain financing for the 2025 crop year. I was proud to vote in support of this funding to help producers in the 12th District overcome difficult headwinds and economic conditions.
Producer Eligibility: - Eligible producers must report 2024 crop year planted and prevented planted acres to FSA on an FSA-578, Report of Acreage form.
- Producers who have not previously reported 2024 crop year acreage or filed a notice of loss for prevented planted crops must submit an acreage report by the Aug. 15, 2025, deadline.
- Eligible producers can visit fsa.usda.gov/ecap for eligibility and payment details.
Applying for ECAP: - Producers must submit ECAP applications to their local FSA county office by Aug. 15, 2025.
- Only one application is required for all ECAP-eligible commodities nationwide.
- ECAP applications can be submitted to FSA in-person, electronically using Box and One-Span, by fax, or by applying online at fsa.usda.gov/ecap utilizing a secure login.gov account.
- If a producer does not receive a pre-filled ECAP application, and they planted or were prevented from planting ECAP eligible commodities in 2024, they should contact their local FSA office.
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Keeping Foreign Interference Out of Our Universities
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America’s foreign adversaries are targeting our nation’s students. From stealing research, to pushing propaganda, to censoring free speech—colleges and universities are on the frontlines of malign foreign interference. Foreign regimes, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), have expanded their influence by providing American academic institutions with lucrative funding opportunities. Many schools fail to report these foreign gifts and funding as required, leaving foreign actors with a stranglehold on U.S. academic institutions.
That's why House Republicans passed the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act, with my support. This legislation brings much-needed transparency, accountability, and clarity to foreign gift reporting requirements for colleges and universities across the nation. Specifically, the DETERRENT Act: - Slashes the foreign gift reporting threshold for colleges and universities from $250,000 down to $50,000, with an even stricter $0 threshold for countries and entities of concern.
- Closes reporting loopholes and provides transparency to Congress, intelligence agencies, and the public.
- Requires disclosure of foreign gifts and contracts to individual staff and faculty at research-heavy institutions to protect those targeted the most by our adversaries.
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Overturning Biden's Costly Energy Regulations
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The Biden-Harris Administration fought until the last minute to unleash costly and burdensome regulations on the American people. From cars and gas stoves to washing machines, commercial refrigerators, and freezers—these so-called energy standards from the previous administration will only lead to higher costs, fewer choices, and additional burdens on small businesses.
This week I was also proud to support passage of H. J. Res. 24 and H. J. Res. 75 on the House floor, resolutions that will overturn destructive Biden-era regulations on commercial refrigerators and freezers, and walk-in coolers and freezers. The Department of Energy estimates that these “standards” would have a price tag of billions of dollars – which we know would be passed down to hardworking consumers.
House Republicans are committed to dismantling the bureaucratic overreach of the previous administration and keeping prices low for the American people. Watch my remarks on the House floor HERE. |
Introducing Legislation in the 119th Congress
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I've recently introduced three bills to protect Americans' personal data, safeguard workers' privacy, and support entrepreneurs:
The Telling Everyone the Location of Data Leaving the U.S. Act (TELL Act): Communist China has consistently proven it will stop at nothing to undermine U.S. national security interests, including the exploitation of sensitive information. The TELL Act will help ensure Americans' personal data does not fall into the hands of the CCP regime, while also delivering much-needed accountability. Read more HERE.
The Secret Ballot Protection Act: Congressional Democrats have been attempting to undermine workers’ rights to privacy in the union election process for years. This legislation would guarantee every vote to unionize a workplace is cast with a secret ballot, eliminating the threats posed by the deceptive "card check" scheme. Read more HERE.
The Startup Act: With over seven million unfilled jobs across the country, Congress must lead the way in connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need to build successful businesses, create jobs, and bolster the U.S. economy. Through the Startup Act, we can eliminate barriers to entrepreneurship and empower more hardworking individuals to achieve the American Dream. Read more HERE. |
Discussing Health Care with Industry Leaders
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I enjoyed participating in a fireside chat with industry leaders and stakeholders about health care policy, including the importance of employer-sponsored health coverage. Competition drives down costs, and as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, I look forward to working on commonsense solutions that empower more employers to offer quality health care options to their employees. |
This Week's White House Highlight
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REMINDER: With President Trump back in the White House, we are excited to add a new feature to the newsletter! Each week, I will highlight an executive action, announcement, rulemaking, bill signing, or any other activity from the Trump Administration to keep you well-informed on what's happening in Washington.
Early Thursday morning, the Trump Administration directed the successful apprehension of a key leader of the brutal MS-13 gang — an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who was one of the top three MS-13 leaders in the United States.
Thanks to a coordinated effort by federal law enforcement and state and local law enforcement, this gang leader is no longer terrorizing our streets. This Administration is using every possible tool to protect the safety of the American people and ensure violence is met with justice. |
This Week's Committee Activity
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Energy and Commerce Committee
Subcommittee on Energy Hearing:
"Keeping the Lights On: Examining the State of Regional Grid Reliability"
With rising electricity demand, shoring up our grid’s capacity to meet increased energy needs is more critical than ever. Georgia benefits from a vertically integrated energy system, which delivers reliable power tailored to our state’s unique needs. During this hearing, I highlighted Plant Vogtle and how nuclear energy will play a vital role in securing our grid.
Watch my remarks by clicking here. |
2025 Congressional Art Competition
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REMINDER: I recently announced that my office is now accepting submissions for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition!
Every year, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor a nationwide high school art competition. This contest is open to all high school students (9th – 12th grade) in Georgia’s 12th District. The winning piece will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, and its student artist will receive an invitation to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the national winners’ reception.
I look forward to seeing this year's submissions from our young artists in Georgia’s 12th District. Read more HERE. |
This Week's Office Visitors
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As always, it was great to meet with several groups this week to talk about the issues that matter most to them.
Those pictured include representatives from: - Savannah River National Laboratory
- National Religious Broadcasters
- Georgia Apartment Association
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
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Follow me on Social Media!
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Social media is a great way to stay connected and I encourage you to keep up with my work in Congress by ‘liking’ my Facebook page and following me on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
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As always, my office is here to help. If you'd like to email me, please click here.
To contact one of our district offices, please click here.
To stay informed about what is happening in Washington D.C. and in our district, please follow me on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Sincerely,
Rick Allen
Member of Congress |
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