Funds agriculture, food safety, and rural development agencies for FY2027.
Sponsored by Rep. Harris of Maryland, from the Appropriations Committee.
Reported by committee, awaiting House action.
This bill, H.R. 8646, provides funding for the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027. It was introduced by Representative Harris of Maryland, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, which is responsible for drafting spending bills. The bill has been reported out of the Appropriations Committee and is now awaiting consideration by the full House of Representatives.
Introduced May 1, 2026
The bill is currently in the 'Committee' stage in the House of Representatives. It has been reported out of the House Committee on Appropriations and committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union. For it to become law, it must pass a vote in the House, then pass the Senate, and finally be signed by the President. Specific dates for House or Senate votes are not yet available.
If this bill passes, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program participants will see significantly increased cash-value vouchers for women and children. The bill also introduces new federal regulations for animal food, including pet food, which will change labeling and ingredient rules for manufacturers and consumers. Rural communities could benefit from new funding for essential infrastructure like water, waste disposal, and high-speed internet projects. Additionally, federal agencies would be limited in which flags they can display at their facilities, permitting only U.S., state, tribal, official agency, or POW/MIA flags.
Supporters Say
Supporters say the bill funds vital government services, enhances food security, supports rural communities, and includes important consumer and industry protections.
Critics Say
Critics may object to specific policy measures that limit regulatory actions, introduce social policy riders, or restrict agency operations, arguing they are unrelated to core funding.
Those in favor highlight the bill's role in ensuring funding for essential operations within the Department of Agriculture, FDA, and related agencies, supporting everything from agricultural research to food inspection and nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC. They may point to provisions like the new animal food regulations (Sec. 772) as beneficial for clarity and safety, or the allocation of funds to persistent poverty counties (Sec. 733) as a crucial investment in rural development. However, opponents might raise concerns about certain policy riders, such as the prohibition on specific poultry market regulations (Sec. 758), the restrictions on flags displayed at federal facilities (Sec. 757), or the language concerning religious beliefs and moral convictions regarding marriage (Sec. 764), viewing these as ideological measures inserted into a spending bill.