Rep. Bishop Remarks during U.S. House Rules Cmte meeting re: H.R. 8646 (FY27 Ag/RD/FDA Funding Bill)

The U.S. House of Rules Committee had a meeting this week during which it discussed H.R. 8646, the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill. The U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural, Development, Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 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 House Appropriations Subcommittee. During the the U.S. House Rules Committee meeting, 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. He emphasized that funding cuts in this bill are making it more difficult for families and communities to afford utilities and clean water. Congressman Bishop also expressed dismay that members of the majority are trying to include caustic policy riders that distract from the core agricultural and rural development mission of the funding bill.