Rep. Bishop Opening Remarks, U.S. House Debate on H.R. 8646, FY27 Ag, Rural Dev., FDA Funding Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives debated and voted on H.R. 8646, the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill. The Agriculture, Rural, Development, Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee has funding jurisdiction over USDA (except the Forest Service), the Food & Drug Administration, as well as the Commodity Future Trading Commission and the Farm Credit Administration. Congressman Bishop is the top Democrat, Ranking Member, of the subcommittee. During the debate on the U.S. House floor, he expressed his regret that he cannot support the FY27 Ag/RD/FDA funding bill as it is currently written because it continues to cut programs and staff on which farmers and families rely. It guts nutrition programs that help prevent women, infants, and children from going hungry, and takes away support for rural small businesses as well as grants that help rural communities provide clean water and affordable utilities.