Bynum Stands Up for Access to Food Assistance Programs, Votes Against Republican Agriculture-FDA Funding Bill

Yesterday, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) voted against the harmful FY27 Agriculture-FDA funding bill which includes massive cuts to programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP),Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), and Rural Business Development Grants - leaving families and rural communities behind.

Congresswoman Bynum introduced five amendments in the Rules Committee to the bill to protect food assistance programs, minimize wildfire risks, and keep drug costs affordable.

"Americans should not go hungry because of some out-of-touch DC politician's policy choices,"said Rep. Bynum. "This bill cuts critical funding that helps put food on the table for millions of Americans and invests in rural communities. I tried to fix some of the issues with my amendments, but Republicans rejected them. I refuse to vote for a trash bill like this that leaves children hungry and rural Oregonians behind."

The amendments introduced by Rep. Bynum, which were all rejected by Republicans, are as follows:

1. An amendment to prohibit the use of funds for implementing the SNAP restrictions passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act;
2. An amendment to prohibit funds from being used for a U.S. Forest Service reorganization if it would increase wildfire risk;
3. An amendment to provide $ 1 million and require the FDA to conduct a study, as proposed in H.R. 4486, the Microplastics Safety Act, on the human health impacts of microplastics exposure;
4. An amendment to prohibit any funds provided by the bill from being used to implement a tariff that increases the cost of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs;
5. An amendment to direct a study to determine the impacts of cuts to WIC from HR.1.

Congresswoman Bynum also offered the Motion to Reconsider to send the bill back to committee for further changes, which Republicans also rejected.

You can watch the Congresswoman's Floor Speech in support of the motion HEREand read the full text of it below.

I can't say that I am surprised that my Republican colleagues want to cut yet another resource to help women and children get food.

Their bill reduces the fruit and vegetable benefit for mothers and young children under WIC. Going against actual, science-backed evidence on what families need to stay healthy.

Cutting these benefits leaves 5.3 million moms and kids without reliable access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

But here's the real kicker. This Administration's own "Make America Healthy Again Report" praises WIC's success in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. Read along with me here on page 34. "WIC has a proven track record of improving children's health."

We know these benefits work.

These benefits help parents bring home apples instead of ultra-processed snacks, carrots instead of empty calories, and healthier options across the board that set children up for success.

We hear a lot of talk from the same people who are trying to cut these benefits about making America healthier.

If they were serious about that goal, I wouldn't have to be standing up here right now.

We should be making it easier for families to afford healthy food. NOT harder.

For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee.

If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill.

My amendment would restore the cut this bill makes to the WIC fruit and vegetable benefits and adjust them to keep up with inflation.

I will keep fighting to make sure that nothing - not inflation, and not out-of-touch Republicans in DC - gets to take healthy food away from moms and kids.

At the end of the debate, I will insert into the record the text of this amendment. I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit.

I yield back.

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