Committee Approves FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 35 to 25. 

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Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) said, “The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act delivers a disciplined, conservative agenda that puts America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities first. This legislation reins in wasteful spending, restores focus to USDA’s core mission, and advances commonsense priorities that strengthen American agriculture and protect taxpayers. Under President Trump and Secretary Rollins’ leadership, this bill puts federal resources where they belong: behind the farmers and ranchers who feed, fuel, and help keep our nation strong.”

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Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “With this bill passing out of full committee, we are advancing the foundation of American strength – our agriculture, rural communities, and critical supply chains. This legislation delivers targeted investments to support farmers and ranchers, prioritize food and drug safety, and reinforces important research and innovation. It aligns resources with real-world needs. It also takes further steps to safeguard American interests by ensuring guardrails of foreign purchases over agricultural purchases – and enhancing oversight of overseas drug manufacturing. I thank Chairman Harris for his leadership and work, which strengthens agriculture and protects public health to uphold the long-term prosperity of our exceptional nation."

Subcommittee Chairman Harris' opening remarks are available here.
Chairman Cole's opening remarks are available here.

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Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $26.27 billion, which is $380 million (1.4%) below the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level. 

The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that protect our nation’s food and drug supply; support America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; and ensure low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs. The legislation is fiscally responsible and refocuses programs on their core mission while putting the health, safety, and prosperity of American producers and consumers first.

Key Takeaways

Champions U.S. farmers, agriculture, and rural communities by: 

• Continuing critical investments in agriculture research, rural development loan programs, and animal and plant health programs.
• Providing funds to ensure the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices.
• Ensuring low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs.
• Reining in harmful regulations proposed during the Biden Administration that dictate how poultry and livestock producers raise and market their animals.
• Increasing resources for the Food Safety and Inspection Service to fund frontline meat and poultry inspectors and bolster support for state inspection programs.

Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by: 

• Aligning with the President’s public health priorities by providing $7.1 billion for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to keep food, drugs, and devices safe – and for initiatives to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA).
• Delivering $1.16 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which is a priority in the President’s budget to protect American agriculture from foreign pests and diseases.
• Retaining the gene editing provision, which prohibits the “editing” of heritable genes or altering of genes that can be passed on to offspring.
• Maintaining “Buy American” provisions that maximize the federal government’s use of services, goods, products, and materials produced and offered in the United States.
• Preventing discrimination against Americans based on traditional marriage beliefs.

Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by: 

• Addressing foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land by improving the tracking system of foreign-owned land and adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review agricultural transactions, including purchases made by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
• Bolstering national security by increasing funding for USDA’s Office of Homeland Security by $13.6 million.
• Directing USDA to provide transparency into research funding involving foreign governments, including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. o Increasing inspection of foreign drug manufacturing facilities in China and India.
• Providing funding for land-grant universities to conduct agricultural research to ensure American producers are better equipped to compete with China.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by: 

• Reducing salaries and expenses where appropriate to account for staffing reductions and shrinking grant programs that housed canceled grants.
• Eliminating funding for the Biden-era Rural Partners Network initiative.
• Including no funds for climate hubs or climate corps.

A summary of the bill is available here.

During the markup, Committee Republicans also stood with the America First agenda and rejected Democrat amendments that would have:  

• Increased government spending with no offset.
• Restricted the implementation of the America First agenda.
• Prevented agencies from managing their workforce.
• Initiated a study focused on “green climate” and solar energy projects.
• Reinstated a duplicative government study.
• Wasted resources by requiring an unnecessary bureaucratic review.
• Undercut U.S. producers in the global marketplace.

Adopted Amendments 

• Harris #1 (Manager’s Amendment) – Makes technical, bipartisan changes to the bill and report.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Harris #2 (Republican En Bloc) – Makes technical changes, adds millet to the definition of specialty crops, extends the time for a water project to be completed, encourages microalgae farming, and supports electronic prescription information.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Bice #1 – Initiates a report on domestic infant formula supply to strengthen oversight, improve resiliency, and understand challenges.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Meng #1 – Directs an FDA report on harmful food dyes.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Gluesenkamp Perez #3 – Encourages food nutrition and safety for children in day cares.      
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available here.
  

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