Cole Remarks at FY26 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Bill Subcommittee Markup (As Prepared For Delivery)

Thank you, Chairman Harris, and thank you to Ranking Member Bishop, Ranking Member DeLauro, and to all the members of the subcommittee for being with us today.

As we kick off our markup schedule for the fiscal year 2026 bills today, we should all expect some early mornings and late nights in the coming weeks. But, the idea of sunup to sundown is nothing new for America’s foremost producers. For rural districts like the one I represent in southwest Oklahoma, agriculture is not merely a commodity, it is a way of life. Through production, innovation, and pure grit, American farmers feed the world.

Today’s bill, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026, supports President Trump’s farmer-first agenda by recognizing the great importance of agriculture and rural communities to our great nation. It continues critical investments in research, rural broadband, and animal and plant health programs, each of which are essential to support our nation and future growth.

This legislation also takes steps to shield and preserve American farms and farming communities. It includes safeguards to prohibit foreign bad actors from purchasing agricultural land, which is a critically important issue in my district. And, it reduces wasteful spending, ensuring that American taxpayer dollars are spent where they are needed most. As we safeguard our food supply, we also direct vital resources to protect the safety of medical drugs and devices.

Each provision in this bill will help feed, fuel, heal, and connect Americans. I thank Chairman Harris and Ranking Member Bishop, as well as the majority and minority staff, for their hard work on this measure, and I look forward to consideration of this bill today.

With that, I yield back.