Senate Passes FY 2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

The U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act by a vote of 87-9. The bill, which provides $27.1 billion in discretionary funding, invests in America’s rural communities, supports our nation’s farmers and ranchers, ensures the security of our food supply, and maintains nutritional support for low-income American families. Highlights include:

• Rural Development: $3.7 billion to support rural development programs across the U.S., including $1.7 billion for affordable housing rental assistance for low-income families and seniors in rural communities as requested by the Administration; $1 billion in lending authority for Single-Family Housing direct loans and $25 billion in lending authority for the guaranteed Single-Family Housing loans; $1.3 billion for rural water and waste grants and loans; $1.8 billion in grants and loans for rural business and industry programs that promote small business growth in rural areas; $8 billion in lending authority for rural electric loans; and $96 million for rural broadband grants and loans. The bill also eliminates funding for the Biden-era Rural Partners Network initiative and maintains “Buy American” provisions that maximize the federal government's use of domestic products.