Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of the fiscal year 2027 agricultural appropriations legislation as well as in support of farmers, ranchers, and producers across this Nation.

As a third-generation farmer myself in central Washington, I know firsthand the challenges facing farm country as they produce the food, the fuel, and the fiber for consumers both here and around the globe.

In this legislation we provide key support for international food aid, including the Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole Food for Progress programs, helping to lift developing nations out of poverty while providing export markets for our farmers right here at home.

We continue critical investments in agricultural research, promotional efforts, loan programs for rural communities, and assistance for specialty crop producers.

This legislation also ensures that the Secretary of Agriculture remain a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing our farmland, which is a matter of national security.

As we find ourselves nearly $40 trillion in debt, we must rein in spending. We must get our fiscal house in order, and we must ensure taxpayer dollars are spent as efficiently as possible.

Madam Chair, this bill does this. This is a good bill.

I thank Chairman Harris and Chairman Cole, as well as Mr. Bishop and Ms. DeLauro and the entire committee staff for their work on making this important piece of legislation as good as it gets.

Madam Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

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