US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

7 U.S.C. § 6995

Informal hearings

(a)

In general

If an officer, employee, or committee of an agency makes an adverse decision, the agency shall hold, at the request of the participant, an informal hearing on the decision.

(b)

Farm Service Agency

section 6932 of this titleWith respect to programs carried out through the Farm Service Agency (or other office, agency, or administrative unit of the Department assigned to carry out the programs authorized for the Farm Service Agency under ), the Secretary shall maintain the informal appeals process applicable to such programs, as in effect on .

(c)

Mediation

7 U.S.C. 5101If a mediation program is available under title V of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 ( et seq.) as a part of the informal hearing process, the participant shall—
(1)
be offered the right to choose such mediation; and
(2)
to the maximum extent practicable, be allowed to use both informal agency review and mediation to resolve disputes under that title.

Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 275108 Stat. 3230Pub. L. 110–234, title XII, § 12032122 Stat. 1391Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12404(b)(3)132 Stat. 4975(, , ; , , ; , title XII, § 12032, , , 2153; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 100–233101 Stat. 1568section 2001 of Title 12The Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, referred to in subsec. (c), is , , . Title V of the Act is classified principally to chapter 82 (§ 5101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1988 Amendments note set out under , Banks and Banking, and Tables.

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246 and made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by were repealed by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–3342018—Subsec. (b). substituted “Farm” for “Consolidated Farm” in two places.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 120322008—, designated the three sentences of existing provisions as subsecs. (a) to (c), respectively, inserted headings, and in subsec. (c) designated part of existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of this titleAmendment of this section and repeal of by effective , the date of enactment of , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .