05.14.25

Sullivan, Hirono Introduce Legislation to Increase Funding for USDA Program Supporting Farmers and Ranchers in Alaska and Hawaii

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) this week reintroduced the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment (RTCP) Revitalization Act, legislation to secure additional funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) RTCP Program. The RTCP program enables geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in Alaska, Hawaii, and other insular areas to receive reimbursements for costs incurred when transporting supplies such as feed, fertilizer, and equipment parts. This legislation also increases the amount of funding these producers can receive.

“Alaska’s farmers and ranchers face greater obstacles getting their goods to market due to our state’s vast size, many remote communities, and general lack of infrastructure,” said Sen. Sullivan. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in Hawaii to support a vital USDA program that makes it possible for these hard-working Alaskans to support our economy and feed their fellow Americans from the bounty of our great state.”

“Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural producers work tirelessly to provide healthy and fresh produce for their communities, and those located in geographically disadvantaged areas deserve to be fairly compensated for the lengths which they go to transport supplies,” said Senator Hirono. “As we continue working toward increased agricultural sustainability, I am glad to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to support food producers in Hawaii, Alaska, and other insular areas, helping to ensure that local producers can continue their work as valuable food sources in their communities.”

The RTCP program was established in the 2008 Farm Bill in recognition of the increased costs producers face in geographically disadvantaged areas. USDA began administering the program in 2010 and throughout its history, demand for this popular program has substantially exceeded available funds. In addition to Alaska and Hawaii, the program is also available to farmers, ranchers, and producers in Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Virgin Islands.

Due to the increase in both demand for the program as well as costs for producers, the RTCP Revitalization Act aims to secure additional funding for the program. Specifically, the bill would:

  • Provide mandatory funding for RTCP, starting with $10 million in fiscal year (FY) 2026, increasing by $1 million each year to $15 million in FY 2031, and then provides $15 million each fiscal year thereafter;
  • Remove the $15 million payment cap for any given fiscal year that is currently in statute;
  • Provide language saying that the Secretary may not impose a cap to individual producer payments for any fiscal year that program funds exceed demand; and
  • Retain the authority for appropriators to fund the program.

In addition to Senators Sullivan and Hirono, the legislation was also cosponsored by Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii).

The full text of the legislation is available here. A one-page summary of the bill is available here.

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