STATEMENT: Sen. Schiff Statement on Senate 2026 Farm Bill

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on the Farm Bill:

"I appreciate the collaboration of Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and stakeholders on this legislation. This Farm Bill includes important provisions I've fought for to address challenges farmers are facing. But the bill still falls short of what is needed by farmers, farmworkers, and families in California and around the nation.

"First, the positive: From increased support for specialty crop farmers, including a new emergency assistance framework and an advisory committee to inform specialty crop insurance development, to investments for automation research and policies to expand market opportunities, to a greater investment in addressing pests and disease; this bill has much that I am proud of. It also includes legislation I've pushed for to improve health protections for Forest Service firefighters. And it contains reauthorizations and modifications to many initiatives important to California, such as organic, rural development, and trade programs. And it maintains California's Proposition 12 in its entirety, keeping intact critical public health, food safety, and animal welfare standards.

"Second, what is missing: Unfortunately, the Farm Bill we considered today did not address the deep cuts made to food for hungry families in the SNAP program, by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, and the harm it is doing in California and across our nation.Millions of families are hungrier, and this Farm Bill does not change that. It not only fails to address a growing hunger crisis, it also proposes to put a heavier burden on states like California, which will only result in more families suffering, along with the farmers who would otherwise provide that food. The bill does not address the lack of disaster assistance for states like California that are hit with fire and flooding, in the same way it provides help for farmers hurt by hurricanes in other states. Furthermore, this Farm Bill cuts nearly $2 billion in funding for widely popular conservation programs and lacks robust investments for farmers and rural America such as more ad hoc assistance for specialty crop farmers and mandatory funding for local food programs.

"California's farmers, farmworkers and families deserve a Farm Bill that restores and strengthens SNAP, and that provides more meaningful resources to help growers succeed. In the absence of this, I could not vote in support of the bill as written. I will continue to work with both sides of the aisle for a better and stronger Farm Bill in the hope that we might get the job done next month."

Background: Senator Schiff is the first Senator from California to serve on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in over 30 years. The Farm Bill considered today included provisions of bills that Senator Schiff introduced and advocated for, including:

• The Increasing Insurance Access for Specialty Crops Act to establish a first-time ever Specialty Crop Advisory Committee for Crop Insurance at USDA. This Committee would improve existing policies available to specialty crops, conduct outreach, and facilitate the development of new insurance policies for specialty crops. The majority of U.S. specialty crop growers operate without crop insurance or any other form of a federal safety net. Specialty crop farmers deserve an affordable and effective safety net. The bill text can be viewed here.
• The Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act to allocate $30 million per year from USDA research funding for the research and development of specialty crop mechanization and automation. Agricultural labor is an ongoing challenge for farmers, and this bill would improve their ability to grow, harvest, and handle what they grow while upskilling farmworkers in their ability to use such technology. The bill text can be viewed here.
• The Ensuring Disaster Recovery and Resilience for Specialty Crops Act to establish an emergency assistance framework tailored to specialty crops. USDA and Congress have repeatedly had to provide disaster relief to growers on an ad hoc basis. A framework would allow growers to receive relief on a timely and reliable basis. Farmers and ranchers across the country have long had access toa plethora of disaster programs; specialty crop farmers deserve a dedicated program that works well for them, as well. This bill is co-led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) The bill text can be viewed here.
• The Expanding Market Access Act to enhance American producers' access to foreign markets to help meet international demand for California and U.S. products. Specifically, the bill would provide technical assistance for infrastructure in foreign markets for U.S. commodities, mandate a report on the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops, and increase funding for the Market Access Program, which funds overseas marketing and promotional activities of U.S. agricultural products. California farmers feed not just the state and the nation, but the world. We must invest in resources to ensure they can keep doing so. The bill text can be viewed here.
• The Fresh Produce for Families Act to increase food banks' access to fresh produce. This bill seeks to provide nutritious food for American families and support specialty crop farmers. The bill text can be viewed here.
• The Opening Programs to Organic Farms Act to direct USDA to conduct a report on barriers to participation in USDA programs faced by certified organic farms and farms that may be interested in transitioning to organic production. The bill text can be viewed here.
• The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act to create the first-ever respiratory protection standards for wildland firefighters. The bill text can be viewed here.

In May, Schiff outlined his priorities for the Farm Bill and to push for a Bill that reflects economic opportunity, health, sustainability, national security, and prosperity. He also published an op-ed with the Bakersfield Californian calling for a Farm Bill that serves California's farmers.

During the first year and a half of the Senator's term on the Senate Agriculture Committee, he has visited farms across the entirety of California, learning about the Golden State's countless agricultural industries, including strawberries, almonds, broccoli, celery, and leafy greens.

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