All Roll Calls
Yes: 423 • No: 422
HR8646119th CongressWALLET
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027
Sponsored By: Representative Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]
Passed House
Summary
Provides FY2027 funding for USDA, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration. It sets specific dollar allocations, program rules, and limits on rulemaking across agriculture, rural housing, food safety, and animal feed.
Show full summary
- Families in rural areas get expanded housing and rental support, including $25.0 billion for guaranteed single-family loans and about $1.8 billion for rental assistance, plus vouchers and preservation programs.
- Farmers, researchers, and plant and animal health programs receive targeted resources and new authorities: FSIS has about $1.2 billion for inspection and enforcement, ARS keeps construction and lab protections, and the bill adds a frost/cold-weather crop insurance index and RMA funding.
- Food and consumer protection gets new rules and enforcement money: at least $200.0 million from tobacco user fees is directed to ENDS enforcement and the bill creates a statutory framework and deadlines for animal food ingredient reviews.
*Provides substantial FY2027 appropriations across USDA, Rural Development, and FDA as detailed in the Act.*
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
32 provisions identified: 22 benefits, 5 costs, 5 mixed.
Cheaper terms for Arkansas Valley water
If enacted, the Arkansas Valley Conduit deal would require a 35% payment share. On hardship, the rest could be paid back over up to 75 years at simple interest equal to half the Treasury‑set rate. Contracting parties would take over operation and maintenance.
SNAP stores and school meals
If enacted, SNAP stores would keep using older “variety” rules until USDA updates the definitions. For school year 2027–2028, only districts with a negative food service balance on June 30, 2026 would need to set a paid lunch price. For school breakfast in 2026–2027 and 2027–2028, schools would still be able to swap vegetables for fruits. The bill would also bar buying poultry or seafood from China for school meal programs.
More crackdowns on illegal vapes
If enacted, at least $200 million from FDA tobacco user fees would go to crack down on illegal e‑cigarettes and vapes. At least $20 million would fund a federal task force led by DOJ, DHS, and FDA. The FDA would have to add flavored disposable vapes to top enforcement by November 12, 2026. A plan would be due within 60 days of enactment, with reports twice a year.
New national rules for pet food labels
If enacted, the FDA would create a new national framework for pet and animal food. Ingredient submissions would get an FDA action letter within 180 days. Initial pet‑food guidance would be due within 18 months. Some state label rules would be preempted, while certain marketing and “natural” claims would face new federal definitions and limits. Ingredients listed in the 2024 AAFCO book would be treated as safe additives unless FDA says otherwise; GRAS notices would stay voluntary.
Study new frost insurance for crops
If enacted, the federal crop insurance program would study and develop an index‑based policy to cover frost and cold losses for named fruits and other crops. The study would look at low‑frequency, catastrophic events and aim to cover production or revenue losses. A report to Congress would be due within one year of enactment.
Protect access to cancer drugs
If enacted, the government could not use these funds to block FDA reviews or inspections that would help prevent shortages of sterile injectable cancer drugs on FDA’s shortage list. This would support patient access to critical treatments.
Stronger access to rural housing help
If enacted, USDA would be able to keep FY2027 loan‑cost funds available until spent for key rural housing, electrification/telecom, and development loans. At least 10% of certain direct loans and grants would be steered to persistent‑poverty counties, where feasible. When deciding who qualifies and how much help to give, RHS would not count incarcerated prison populations.
Easier hemp sales and transport
If enacted, the government would not be able to use these funds to block transporting, processing, selling, or using hemp grown under federal hemp laws, inside or outside the state where grown. This would protect lawful hemp commerce across state lines.
Help for specialty crop growers
For fiscal year 2027, this would remove cost‑share or match requirements for Specialty Crop Block Grant awards. It would also add millet to the specialty crops list, which would make millet growers eligible for related programs.
More room in USDA rural loans
If enacted, USDA could raise loan and guarantee program levels by up to 25%, and some Rural Electrification loans by up to 50%, with 15 days’ notice to Congress. It would also block cutting the maximum allowable loan share from 80% to 60% for loans made on or after February 10, 2026 unless USDA finishes a public rulemaking. The 80% limit would stay in place until then.
Pause some poultry rules and enforcement
If enacted, USDA could not use funds to write or enforce several poultry grower contracting and Packers & Stockyards rules. Agencies could use funds to withdraw those rules and close related investigations. FDA also would not enforce a rule for surplus broiler hatching eggs sold to egg breakers for liquid egg products.
USDA audits foreign animal health
If enacted, USDA would audit other countries’ animal health systems, including vaccines, traceability, labs, and emergency response. Final audit reports would be posted publicly and applied consistent with U.S. trade obligations.
Keep USDA local offices open
If enacted, USDA could not use these funds to close NRCS, Rural Development, or FSA field offices, or shrink them to two or fewer staff, without advance notice and approval from Congress. This would help keep local service access in rural areas.
Delay some FDA food safety rules
If enacted, FDA could not enforce the food traceability rule before July 20, 2028. FDA would have to identify flexibilities, hold quarterly public sessions with sample data exercises, and post results in 75 days. FDA would also set up an expert panel that reports within one year. FDA would not issue or promote new Listeria guidance for low‑risk ready‑to‑eat foods until it considers new science and updates its guide.
Higher overtime fees for meat plants
If enacted, meat, poultry, and egg plants would be charged for federal inspection done outside approved shifts or on federal holidays. The fees would fund those inspection costs and would take effect at enactment.
New fee on guaranteed business loans
If enacted, guaranteed Business and Industry loans would face a one‑time fee of up to 3% of the guaranteed principal. Borrowers would pay this when the loan is guaranteed.
Buy American rules for rural water projects
If enacted, rural water and wastewater projects using listed USDA funds would have to use U.S.‑made iron and steel. Waivers would be allowed if U.S. products are unavailable, lower quality, against the public interest, or if they raise total project cost by over 25%. Projects already approved by state engineers before enactment would be exempt. USDA could keep up to 0.25% of rural water funds for oversight.
Stronger checks on foreign farm deals
If enacted, the Agriculture Secretary could join national security reviews for deals involving farm land or the farm sector. USDA would notify the review panel about risky farm land transactions, with focus on governments and entities of concern. Reviews could become more extensive for some investors.
Tighter oversight of USDA spending and IT
If enacted, agencies would need 30 days’ notice and approval before big funding shifts, reorganizations, or privatizing functions. USDA could not obligate most IT funds without CIO approval, and an FSA IT carryover cap of $20 million would apply through September 30, 2028. Advisory committee costs would be capped, new USDA user‑fee rulemakings would be barred, and large award terminations would require 3 business days’ notice to Congress. USDA could reimburse its legal office for time‑limited work and use Commodity Credit Corporation funds for certain program administration. ARS lab closures would need prior notice and approval with detailed analysis.
Tighter controls on USDA shared services
If enacted, USDA could move unused discretionary funds into a shared services fund for property, finance, and IT, and those dollars would stay available until spent. Obligating those transfers and making big changes to the National Finance Center would need prior notice and approval from Congress, with limited emergency exceptions. Up to 4% of NFC income could be reserved for capital needs, with notice before use.
Help for pet donations and shelters
If enacted, people and groups who donate pet food and supplies in good faith would get civil and criminal protections, except for gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Limited protection would apply if the recipient agrees to recondition items after being told about issues. The bill would also provide $1.5 million for emergency and transitional pet shelter and housing grants.
More farmers’ market help for seniors
If enacted, the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program would get $2.5 million for FY2027, on top of other funds. This would help low‑income seniors buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
More WIC milk and peanut options
If enacted, WIC food packages would add peanut‑containing foods within 180 days, and the foods would have to be safe for infants. For FY2027, the monthly milk maximums would be set at 16 quarts for packages IV and VI, 22 quarts for V, and 24 quarts for VII. Package III would match these changes.
Produce rule paused for some crops
If enacted, FDA could not use funds to enforce the produce safety rule for wine grapes, hops, pulse crops, or almonds. Growers of those crops would face less federal enforcement.
Grants for invasive catfish processors
If enacted, $1 million would be provided for grants to processors of invasive, wild‑caught catfish. The funds would remain available until spent.
Farm reports extended to 2027
If enacted, certain agricultural reporting deadlines would move from 2026 to 2027. Agencies and affected firms would follow the new 2027 dates.
Limit actions over marriage beliefs
If enacted, funds could not be used to take federal actions against people for speaking or acting on a sincere belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. This would bar using these funds to change tax treatment, assess taxes or penalties, or deny, delay, or revoke tax‑exempt status under section 501(a) for that reason.
Reduce dog and cat testing
If enacted, FDA centers could not use these funds to issue or finalize guidance that recommends or requires dog testing. NIFA would also be barred from funding dog or cat research in higher pain categories D or E.
Easier funding for farm research grants
If enacted, USDA could waive matching‑fund rules for certain research, extension, and education awards. USDA could also use and transfer withheld funds to make biotechnology risk‑assessment research grants. This would make it easier for schools and partners to secure support for farm and food research.
Labels for older engineered animals
If enacted, any engineered animal approved before February 19, 2019 would need the words “genetically engineered” in its market name. Producers would need to update labels or names for those animals.
Cut to rural distance learning funds
If enacted, $95 million in previously unspent Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband funds would be permanently canceled. Money that Congress marked as emergency would not be canceled. This would reduce support for these rural connectivity programs.
New pet food labels and reviews
If enacted, FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine would lead animal‑food work and report yearly on review performance. Pet food labels would have to list ingredients in order by weight, with small amounts (2% or less, or lower elected levels) grouped at the end with a clear statement. Labels could also use “sometimes present” language for fats, flavors, and grains.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]
MD • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 6/4/2026
On Motion to Recommit
Yes: 210 • No: 212
house vote • 6/4/2026
On Passage
Yes: 213 • No: 210