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

Floor Speech

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Mr. ALFORD. Madam Chair, I thank Representative Harris for his leadership as the subcommittee chair of this great committee, and our ranking member, Mr. Bishop. They are two fine gentlemen who have shepherded this bill through. I know it is not perfect for everyone in the room, but I think it is a step in the right direction for the American people.

Madam Chair, I rise today in strong support of our Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

This is a fiscally responsible bill that puts our farmers, our ranchers, our consumers, and rural communities first.

It strengthens agricultural research, it protects animal and plant health, it improves food safety, and it makes sure that taxpayer dollars, which we should be concerned about each and every day here, are put first.

For Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, which I have the honor of representing, this bill delivers real wins and real results for them. I was proud to secure more than $4 million in direct Federal investments in our communities.

These are reasonable, responsible, and rational programs and investments that will modernize the Cass County Sheriff's digital forensics unit. It will improve water systems in beautiful Lexington, Missouri. It will build a new public safety facility in El Dorado Springs. It will upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Higginsville, and it will modernize 911 services in Morgan County near beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.

This legislation also reinforces national security by addressing the rising crisis of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land while also strengthening oversight of critical supply chains.

Most importantly--most importantly--it supports American producers. It supports rural America, and it advances an America First agenda that works for all families in America.

Together, we are making American agriculture great again. I am proud to be a part of that, and I am proud to be on the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Chair, I urge all my colleagues to get behind this bill. Let's move it forward, and let's put another notch on our belt to get these appropriations bills off the House floor, once again, and over to the Senate.

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