The House accepted Agriculture, Food and National Security Act 2026 (H.R. 7567) by a final majority of 224 to 200 after months of uncertainty about whether Republican Party leaders would be able to secure enough support to pass the bill.
The bill reauthorizes key USDA programs through 2031. The bill updates agricultural policy to strengthen supply chains, expand producers’ access to credit, and improve crop insurance. By investing in broadband networks and infrastructure in rural areas, the program addresses contemporary challenges, supporting our farmers, breeders and foresters.
“It is an honor to serve in Congress on behalf of our nation’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities,” he said Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-15), Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture. “I was proud to lead Agriculture, Food and National Security Act 2026and I am very pleased that this bill was passed with an overwhelming majority of both parties. An updated Farm Bill that meets the ongoing needs of our farmers and ranchers is long overdue, and this is a significant step toward getting agriculture back on track.”
According to the bill’s website, Pennsylvania would benefit from the following:
- Investment in an ARC/PLC security network: $155.5 million
- Investment under the voluntary nature protection program: $41 million
- Producer savings on crop insurance: $30.1 million
- Annual agricultural exports from Pennsylvania: $2.2 billion
- Annual value of specialty crops in Pennsylvania: $1.5 billion
- Annual value of livestock produced in Pennsylvania: $5.8 billion
- Pennsylvania Family Farms Saved from Death Tax: 46.6 thousand
The successful House vote marks the furthest progress the farm bill has made in Congress since the last reauthorization was signed into law in 2018.
The votes among Pennsylvania’s delegation were along party lines, with all nine Republicans voting in favor and all eight Democrats voting against.
Representative Dwight Evans (D-03), who is retiring at the end of the session, voted against this legislation.
“Republicans’ farm bill in Congress does nothing to address skyrocketing grocery prices, restore SNAP cuts, or do anything about Trump’s tariffs that hurt farmers and families. This disastrous bill is not timely yet – I voted NO.”
Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-17) agreed with Evans.
“I voted NO on the Republican farm bill because it will not lower the cost of groceries, will make families hungrier, will not do enough to help small farmers, and will shift many of the costs to the states – including Pennsylvania.”
The legislation still has a long chance of failing to become law due to political disagreements in the Senate. Thursday’s vote came after weeks of pressure from farm Republicans and agricultural lobby groups who stressed the need for largely bipartisan updates to support farmers struggling with high production costs, rising bankruptcies and economic uncertainty.
