[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 120 (Monday, July 14, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4323-S4324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, the appropriations process is officially 
underway here in the Senate.
  Last week, the Appropriations Committee held its first markup of 
appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026, and I am pleased to report 
that the committee referred two bills to the floor with bipartisan 
support. Today, I want to talk about one of the bills that came out of 
last week's markup, and that is the Agriculture appropriations bill.
  Agriculture is the lifeblood of our country, and in places like my 
home State of South Dakota, farming and ranching are a big part of our 
way of life. I know how hard American farmers and ranchers work to 
deliver food, fuel, and fiber to America and to the world, and I know 
this work can be challenging and, at times, unforgiving.
  In recent years, farmers and ranchers across the country have faced 
some pretty fierce headwinds. Higher input costs and depressed 
commodity prices strained their budgets, and higher interest rates made 
financing more difficult. Then there were the supply chain disruptions; 
natural disasters and drought; and things like bird flu, African swine 
fever, and the New World screwworm that threaten livestock.
  Just 2 weeks ago, Republicans passed a reconciliation bill that 
addresses many of the challenges head-on by bolstering programs that 
farmers and

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ranchers depend on. But as I said then, farmers' and ranchers' 
priorities are going to continue to be a priority here in the Senate, 
and the Agriculture appropriations bill is an example of that.
  Our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have reported a bill 
that provides robust funding to support America's farmers and ranchers. 
It provides important funding to the Farm Service Agency, including 
support for $10.5 billion in capital access for farmers and ranchers. 
And it supports efforts to track foreign-owned land to prevent our 
adversaries like China from buying up America's farmland.
  It also makes investments in rural development programs at USDA. In 
South Dakota, that money goes far in supporting water programs, 
electricity, and broadband programs in rural areas.
  This bill also invests in conservation programs, and it advances 
efforts to help farmers and ranchers get their products to the market. 
I am glad to see support for processing capacity for meat, poultry, and 
egg products. And I am pleased that this bill also promotes programs 
that help State-inspected plants operate across State lines, which 
provides producers with more options for their products and supports 
smaller processors.
  The bill also includes funding for the Agricultural Marketing Service 
to help facilitate greater access to international markets for American 
agriculture products. And the updated market data that will result from 
investments in this bill will help farmers and ranchers make better 
decisions about their businesses.
  In just the past year, the threat to our food supply posed by 
diseases and pests has been national news. I am glad to see the Trump 
administration's actions to address bird flu and its effect on the egg 
supply have had a positive impact. And the Agriculture appropriations 
bill continues efforts to combat bird flu as well as other potentially 
devastating threats like chronic wasting disease and the New World 
screwworm.
  Nutrition is another important part of agriculture policy, and the 
bill that has been reported out provides robust funding for programs 
like WIC and SNAP, and I appreciate Senator Hoeven's work to find 
offsets for increased spending on these programs.
  The work of feeding America and the world isn't easy, but I know our 
farmers and ranchers take a lot of pride in what they do. They know 
they are not just working toward the next harvest; they are keeping a 
heritage alive, a way of life that none of us can live without.
  I appreciate the work the Appropriations Committee has put in to 
support our farmers and ranchers and, in particular, the leadership of 
Chair Collins and Senator Hoeven. And to America's farmers and 
ranchers, we will continue to have your back.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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