Sponsor
Andy Harris
Representative · R-MD
Representative · R-MD
The bill provides targeted rural infrastructure and operational benefits (broader broadband financing, IT modernization flexibility, targeted program funding, and enforcement resources for e-cigarettes) while cutting and redirecting funds and imposing regulatory and administrative restrictions that reduce oversight and could weaken food-safety protections, state authority, and budget transparency.
Rural communities, farmers, and small businesses gain expanded options and funding flexibility for broadband and local infrastructure as the bill broadens eligibility for connectivity pilots and authorizes Farm Credit banks to finance rural waste, telecom, and electricity projects.
Small businesses, farmers, seniors, and community groups receive targeted appropriations and program support (including funds for senior farmers' market program, catfish processors, emergency pet shelter grants, and other small line items) and streamlined pet/pet-food regulatory rules that can lower compliance costs.
Public-health authorities and state governments get increased resources to tackle illegal and flavored disposable e-cigarette imports through additional funding for FDA ENDS enforcement and a new interagency task force.
Rural communities and program beneficiaries face immediate funding losses because the bill cancels $95 million and rescinds $40 million in unobligated balances, which can delay or cut planned projects and services.
Consumers and public health could be put at greater risk because the bill blocks or delays key food-safety and public-health actions (e.g., Listeria guidance, sodium-reduction and traceability enforcement until 2028) and restricts some FSIS inspection/enforcement activity.
Provisions that restrict USDA and FDA rulemaking and enforcement (including withdrawing or preventing updates, stopping loan-limit adjustments, and preempting state animal-food labeling rules) create regulatory uncertainty and reduce federal and state ability to respond to safety, market, and local concerns.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Limits USDA fleet growth, allows approved transfers into USDA’s Working Capital Fund, extends a Farm Bill authority permanently, expands Farm Credit financing authority, cancels $95M unobligated balances, and restricts certain FDA Listeria guidance.
Official title: Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 1, 2026 by Andy Harris · Last progress June 8, 2026
Makes a mix of organizational headings and substantive changes affecting USDA operations, rural and agricultural programs, Farm Credit bank authorities, limited appropriations actions, and FDA policy on Listeria guidance. It restricts USDA vehicle purchases and fleet growth, allows internal transfers into USDA’s Working Capital Fund for equipment and IT (with approvals and notifications), protects National Finance Center operations from unilateral changes, extends an existing Farm Bill authority by removing a sunset date, expands financing authority for a rural cooperative bank, cancels a specific unobligated balance from a prior law, appropriates $2 million for a specified program, and pauses certain FDA Listeria guidance updates pending review of new science. Most sections are organizational headings without operative text; the substantive provisions are concentrated in limits and controls on USDA administrative spending and transfers, statutory extension of a Farm Bill provision, changes to Farm Credit financing authority, and targeted funding and rescission items.