On March 4, the House Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 out of committee (H.R. 7567) by a 34–17 vote following two days of markup and debate. While the vote was largely along party lines, seven Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the bill. The legislation would reauthorize remaining farm and food programs through Fiscal Year 2031 and includes several provisions of importance to RCRC. The bill extends several forest management authorities through 2031, including programs supporting cross-boundary wildfire mitigation and hazardous fuel reduction on federal lands. It also expands Good Neighbor Authority, allowing more entities, including special districts and Tribes, to partner with federal agencies on forest restoration projects and extending that authority through 2030.
Several RCRC-supported marker bills were incorporated into the committee text, including H.R. 2492, the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act (Sec. 8417); H.R. 3300, the Forest Protection and Wildland Safety Act of 2025 (Sec. 10212); and H.R. 1110, the Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act (Sec. 8418). For more information on marker bills included in the House text, see an overview here and a more extensive summary here.
Members filed more than 150 amendments during the markup and raised several proposals relevant to rural priorities. Following continued engagement with RCRC, California Representative Jim Costa (D-Fresno) filed his Rural Development Modernization Act (H.R. 7609) for consideration as an amendment to standardize the USDA population thresholds used to determine eligibility for rural programs. Although the amendment was not formally considered during the markup, its submission for consideration serves to bring increased attention to the proposal as RCRC works to advance the legislation as a standalone bill or through another legislative vehicle. Additionally, Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) highlighted a proposal to extend Secure Rural Schools funding for five years, although the amendment was not formally considered during the markup.
The legislation must still pass the House floor and is expected to face significant hurdles in the Senate. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) has indicated that the Senate will pursue a different approach than the House, and has ruled out reopening the SNAP changes enacted through last year’s reconciliation package Conversely, Senate Democrats have signaled they are unlikely to advance a broader Farm Bill without revisiting those provisions. With no Senate draft introduced and Congress focused on other legislative priorities, it is possible that lawmakers may again extend the 2018 Farm Bill authorities, which expire on September 30, 2026, rather than enact a new five-year authorization. Even if the bill does not advance this Congress, the inclusion of several RCRC priorities in the House proposal positions these issues well for future Farm Bill negotiations and related legislative vehicles.
For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Mary-Ann Warmerdam.