Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Eugene Vindman (VA-07) have introduced the Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill aimed at strengthening organic agriculture in the United States. The legislation seeks to expand federal research on organic farming, improve coordination within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and provide support for producers transitioning to organic methods.
The proposed bill would require the USDA to prioritize organics research as part of its scientific mission. It also calls for better coordination across USDA agencies, inclusion of organic priorities in annual budget planning, and expanded opportunities for universities and producers to foster innovation in organic agriculture.
“Organic farming represents one of the most innovative sectors in American agriculture. By improving coordination at the USDA, this legislation helps advance the correlation between crop science and the family farms that utilize it to strengthen their business. Supporting agriculture research today means a more competitive agricultural economy tomorrow,” said Congressman Lawler.
“As the only Virginian on the House Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to be a voice for our farmers in Congress. Organic agriculture is one of the fastest growing and most innovative sectors in American farming. This bipartisan bill ensures that federal research keeps pace — strengthening support for producers, boosting sustainability, and helping secure the future of American agriculture for generations to come,” said Congressman Vindman.
Key provisions of the bill include improving USDA’s coordination on organic research, requiring organics to be included in annual research and budget plans, increasing funding for the Organic Research and Extension Initiative to $100 million annually by 2030 with an expanded focus on climate resilience and Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, creating new grants for farmers and universities studying transitions to organic production, and enhancing data collection and economic analysis related to organic agriculture.
Congressman Lawler represents New York’s 17th Congressional District north of New York City, covering all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He has been recognized as one of Congress’s most bipartisan members and was rated as the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress.
