Providing for Consideration of H.R. Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, Providing for Consideration of H.R. No Funds for Repeat Child Care Violations Act of Providing for Consideration of H.R. No Aid for Ghost Students Act of and Providing for Consideration of H.R. Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Tanf Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Houchin for yielding the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule, which includes H.R. 8646, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2027.

Through this bill, Republicans are making critical investments in American agriculture, considering to fund broadband expansion programs in rural regions like mine in Appalachian Ohio, and providing funding for critical community projects. Counties like those in my district have been left behind for too long when it comes to internet connectivity and repairing water infrastructure that our communities rely on every day. This bill delivers long-overdue support for rural Ohio families so they can have the tools they need to thrive.

Four of my community project funding requests are included in this bill, which would bring $2.5 million back to Ohio's Second Congressional District to fund vital projects, including freshwater infrastructure, outdated wastewater systems, and workforce training, leading to well-paying jobs for the poorest Ohioans. These funds are critical to improving the quality of life for Ohio families in my district, their access to education and employment opportunities, and will make our region a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

In regard to broadband, this bill encourages USDA to coordinate closely with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to avoid duplication of benefits, protecting funds to ensure every family has access to the internet and, thereby, the modern economy. It additionally encourages USDA to work with all relevant stakeholders, including those with new technologies that may help expand service.

This bill also cracks down on foreign ownership of American farmland by making the Secretary of Agriculture a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and transferring responsibility of tracking foreign land ownership from the Farm Service Agency to the USDA Office of Homeland Security.

Republicans are actively tracking, monitoring, and taking action against adversaries buying farmland. This will better align national security efforts and ensure our Nation's critical food supply is protected for generations to come. After all, food security is national security.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand with my Republican colleagues and urge passage of this bill to protect critical Federal resources for taxpayers who depend on them, ensure our food supply chain and farmland are able to keep food on our families' tables for generations to come, and make sure every rural family can connect to the modern economy.

I thank Chairman Tom Cole, Subcommittee Chairman Harris, and the entire Appropriations Committee for all the hard work they did getting this bill to the floor. I look forward to continuing to work alongside my Republican colleagues to deliver real results to the American people.

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