STATEMENT: Sen. Schiff on Senate 2026 Farm Bill Draft

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 text released:

"As a Senator representing the largest agriculture state in the country, ensuring that the Farm Bill addresses the mounting challenges that California's farmers, farmworkers, and rural communities face is my top priority. The Farm Bill text includes important provisions that I've been fighting for to support specialty crop growers, including establishing an emergency assistance framework, creating a Specialty Crop Advisory Committee for crop insurance, and allocating funding for specialty crop mechanization research. It also maintains California's Proposition 12 in its entirety, keeping intact critical public health, food safety, and animal welfare standards.

"However, this bill still falls short. It does not provide any fix to the deep cuts to SNAP made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, meaning more families will suffer and go hungry. And it does not yet include the robust investments needed to help farmers struggling with tariffs, natural disasters and other challenges.

"I'm grateful for the leadership of Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member Klobuchar, and look forward to working with them as our conversations on this legislation continues. I will continue pushing for a Farm Bill that restores and strengthens SNAP, and that provides the meaningful relief and investments that Californian and American farmers need."

Background:

Schiff is the first senator from California to serve on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in over 30 years. Last week, the Senator introduced two pieces of bipartisan legislation, the American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act, to strengthen resilience in our domestic food supply chains and expand markets for producers, and the Fresh Produce for Families Act, legislation to increase food banks' access to fresh produce to provide nutritious food for families and support specialty crop farmers. Recently, the Senator introduced six additional pieces of legislation aimed at expanding support and market access for specialty crop farmers and to level the playing field for California growers in the Farm Bill. Last month, Schiff also 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 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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