Bishop Says Funding Bill Falls Short for Families, Farmers, & Rural Communities

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), the top Democrat on the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, outlined his opposition to and voted against H.R. 8646, the subcommittee's Fiscal Year 2027 funding bill.

"Everyone eats the food America's farmers produce. Everyone needs safe medicine and medical devices, clean drinking water, and affordable fuel, utilities, and internet," said Congressman Bishop. "This bill slashes funding for water and wastewater grants needed by small, rural communities across the country that have a low tax base. This bill guts rural energy programs, reduces rural broadband investments and affordable housing programs, and takes development grants away from our rural businesses."

Congressman Bishop also noted that, "Agricultural producers are facing increased fuel and input costs because of an unauthorized war in Iran and chaotic tariffs. And this bill will cut staff at the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development Agency - leaving offices closed or understaffed - when farmers need them the most. Increased ag production costs and less USDA support means the cost of food for families also goes up. And, for the first time, we are not guaranteeing full funding for WIC which means as many as 5 million women, infants, and children may go hungry."

"As the appropriations process continues, Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate must put aside partisanship to craft a better bill which ensures that Americans can produce the highest quality, safest, most abundant, and affordable, food, fiber, and medicine," concluded Congressman Bishop.

WATCH: Congressman Bishop's opening remarks during debate on the FY27 agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies funding bill

Unfortunately, in its present form the bill hurts local, rural communities and economies:

• By steeply cutting critical investments, including water and wastewater grants to help rural communities get safer water services.
• By slashing in half the Rural Energy for America Program loans which help farmers and businesses invest in renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.
• By cutting Rural Business Development grants.

The bill hurts farmers and families:

• By cutting the number of employees at Farm Service Agency, Rural Development Agency, and Natural Resources Conservation Service which means many of their local offices will remain closed or understaffed making assistance hard to get at a time when the USDA projects farm income to decline by $4.1 billion from 2025 to 2026.
• By eliminating the program that reimburses producers for the high costs of transporting agricultural commodities or inputs. Higher costs for our farmers mean higher costs for families at the grocery store.
• By eliminating the Healthy Food Financing Initiative that helps feed school children and those facing hunger by purchasing food from local agricultural producers.
• By reducing and transplanting the Food for Peace program thus depriving American farmers of revenue and weakening American diplomacy.

The bill threatens access to food for hardworking and vulnerable Americans:

• By failing to provide the full fruit and vegetable benefit to USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

It undermines efforts to root out fraud, waste, and abuse:

• By cutting funding for the Inspector General and Ethics offices at USDA.

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