INFORMAL HEARINGS.

SEC. 275. [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.—With 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 section 226), the Secretary shall maintain the informal appeals process applicable to such programs, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the subtitle. (c) Mediation.—If a mediation program is available under title V of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 5101 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.