To clarify the Food Security Act of 1985.
Public Law 101-217 · H.R. 3620 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Dec 11, 1989 · Agriculture and Food
Sponsor: Rep. John Rhodes (R-AZ-1)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Morris Udall, Rep. Robert Stump
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985, effective for the 1989 crop year, to consider a cash tenant as a separate "person" from the landlord for purposes of agricultural payment limitations ($50,000 per person) if: (1) the Secretary of Agriculture has made a determination with regard to the tenant's farm operation; and (2) the landlord did not consent to or knowingly participate in the tenant's failure to meet the payment requirements.
States that a tenant who would otherwise be considered the same "person" as the landlord shall be eligible for payments only to the extent that such tenant would be considered the same "person" as the landlord under regulations in place prior to enactment of this Act.
Amends such Act, effective for the 1990 crop, to make a cash tenant who makes a management but not labor contribution to the farming operation ineligible for agricultural program benefits unless such tenant also makes an equipment contribution.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.
- Dec 11, 1989Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-217.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 1, 1989PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 21, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion to agree to Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. de la Garza asked unanimous consent that the House agree to Senate amendments.
- Nov 20, 1989FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 1187 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Nov 14, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Emerson demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. de la Garza moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Agriculture Committee
- Nov 9, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Agriculture Committee
- Nov 8, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.