The Senate Committee on Appropriations has approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill aims to support rural communities, farmers, ranchers, food security, and nutrition programs for low-income families.
The committee passed the measure with a unanimous vote of 27-0, allocating $27.1 billion in discretionary funding.
"This important bill supports our farmers and rural communities, the safety of our food supply, critical federal nutrition programs, and medical research and advancements," said Senator Collins. "As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward."
Senator John Hoeven commented on the significance of supporting national producers: "Our farmers and ranchers provide the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world... we made it a priority to support our nation’s producers with tools like better access to capital [and] marketing assistance."
Key provisions include $3.6 billion for agricultural research programs and full funding for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service receives $1.2 billion to combat diseases such as avian influenza.
Other allocations are $223 million for Agricultural Marketing Services to aid U.S. product marketing domestically and internationally; $1.2 billion for Food Safety and Inspection Service; $1.6 billion for Farm Service Agency loans; $895 million for conservation services; $3.7 billion for rural development including housing assistance; $8.2 billion for nutrition programs like WIC; international food assistance funds totaling $1.5 billion plus additional grants.
Furthermore, FDA funding is set at $3.6 billion with total resources reaching up to $7 billion including user fees.
