[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E400-E401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    BILL (H.R. 7567) TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFORM AND CONTINUATION OF 
   AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
            THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2031, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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                               speech of

                           HON. DEREK SCHMIDT

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 29, 2026

  Mr. SCHMIDT. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, No. 
43, which would direct the secretaries of agriculture and health and 
human services to enter into a memorandum of understanding to conduct 
collaborative research related to increasing the domestic production of 
crops that can be used to produce natural food colors. With growing 
interest among consumers in foods containing no synthetic food dyes, 
the demand for natural alternatives is increasing. Currently, the 
United States lacks domestic production of natural food dyes, requiring 
these dyes to be sourced from overseas.
  This increased demand for natural food colors presents an opportunity 
for American agriculture to step into the gap and grow the crops 
necessary to produce the brightly colored foods that so many of us 
enjoy. Working together, under the direction of my amendment, USDA and 
HHS will work to identify the barriers that exist to producing these 
crops domestically and processing them into the natural dyes that can 
be used by American food companies.
  I am grateful to Chairman Thompson and the Agriculture Committee 
staff for working with me on this amendment and for including it in the 
en bloc amendment. I am also grateful to the industry groups who worked 
with us on this issue. I include in the Record a letter of support for 
my amendment signed by seven industry groups.
  Mr. Chair, thank you for your consideration. I urge the adoption of 
my amendment as part of the en bloc package, and passage of the long-
overdue Farm Bill.

                                                   April 28, 2026.
     Hon. Derek Schmidt,
     Longworth House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Schmidt: As representatives of food and 
     ingredient manufacturers and suppliers, we write to share our 
     support for your Amendment #204 to H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, 
     and National Security Act of 2026, which would direct the 
     U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of 
     Health and Human Services (HHS) to enter into a Memorandum of 
     Understanding (MOU) to coordinate activities to enhance the 
     capacity of domestic producers to increase production of 
     crops used in naturally derived food and beverage colorants.
       The U.S. food industry is currently managing a complex, 
     system-wide shift in how color ingredients are sourced, 
     produced, and incorporated into finished products. This 
     transition is being driven by evolving regulatory frameworks 
     and supply chain realities that will require alignment across 
     agricultural production, ingredient processing, manufacturing 
     systems, and distribution and retail channels. Coordinated 
     federal engagement between USDA and HHS is essential to 
     ensure that these interconnected elements develop in a 
     practical, efficient, and economically viable manner.
       Enhancing the capacity of domestic producers to increase 
     production of colorant crops presents a meaningful 
     opportunity for U.S. agriculture, but doing so at scale will 
     require deliberate planning, sustained research, and targeted 
     investment. Key considerations include agronornic suitability 
     across regions, identification of crops most effective for 
     reliable colorant production, crop genetics, and the need to 
     address barriers to scale such as pest and disease pressures, 
     harvesting technology, and other production challenges. In 
     addition, investment in processing and extraction 
     infrastructure--such as juicing and extraction facilities--
     and the development of stable, predictable markets for 
     growers will be essential. In the absence of coordinated 
     efforts, these factors may limit the pace, efficiency, and 
     affordability with which domestic production capacity can be 
     developed.
       At the same time, the current supply chain for many 
     naturally derived colorant inputs is global in nature. U.S. 
     manufacturers rely on established international sourcing 
     channels, which introduces exposure to trade dynamics, 
     regional production variability, and logistical constraints. 
     Federal coordination that considers both domestic production 
     capacity and global sourcing dependencies can help support 
     continuity of supply as domestic capabilities are developed 
     over time.
       From a manufacturing perspective, incorporating naturally 
     derived colorants involves significant operational 
     considerations. These ingredients often require different 
     handling, processing conditions, and quality control 
     approaches than traditional alternatives, and their 
     successful integration may necessitate capital investments, 
     process modifications, and updated supply chain management 
     practices. Coordinated research, development, and 
     demonstration of methods and technologies, along with 
     information sharing across stakeholders, will be important to 
     support efficient implementation while maintaining product 
     consistency and regulatory compliance.
       Your amendment appropriately recognizes that this is not a 
     single-agency issue. By establishing a framework for 
     interagency coordination, competitive and merit-reviewed 
     research, and collaboration across federal agencies, 
     institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, 
     and industry partners, the amendment creates a strong 
     foundation for advancing this work. Support for research 
     infrastructure, workforce development, and public-private 
     collaboration will be critical to translating research into 
     scalable, real-world outcomes and sustaining progress over 
     time.

[[Page E401]]

       Thank you for your leadership on this issue and for your 
     attention to the operational and economic considerations 
     facing both U.S. agriculture and food manufacturers. We stand 
     ready to serve as a resource as this effort moves forward and 
     strongly encourage the House of Representatives to adopt your 
     amendment.
           Sincerely,
       National Confectioners Association, Consumer Brands 
     Association, International Dairy Foods Association, 
     Independent Bakers Association, SNAC International, American 
     Bakers Association, National Seasoning Manufacturers 
     Association.

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