Andy Harris touts agriculture bill as Democrats warn of cuts

Josh Davis, Baltimore Sun on Jun 6, 2026

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The U.S. House passed a Republican-backed fiscal 2027 agriculture funding bill this week that Rep. Andy Harris said would support farmers, rural communities and agricultural research, while cutting Biden-era climate and rural development initiatives.

Harris, a Maryland Republican who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration, said the bill “restores fiscal discipline” while directing money toward livestock and poultry health, agricultural innovation and rural infrastructure.

“I am proud to lead this legislation, which invests in the farmers, watermen, ranchers, and rural communities that power American agriculture — from Maryland’s Eastern Shore to agricultural regions across the country,” Harris said in a statement.

The bill includes funding for agricultural research, rural development loan programs, animal and plant health programs, nutrition assistance and food and drug safety programs, according to Harris’ office. It also provides $7.1 billion for the Food and Drug Administration and $1.16 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Harris’ office said the legislation would increase resources for meat and poultry inspectors, maintain “Buy American” provisions and improve tracking of foreign-owned agricultural land. It would also add the agriculture secretary to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States for reviews of agricultural transactions, including purchases involving China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

The bill also eliminates funding for the Rural Partners Network and includes no money for climate hubs or a climate corps, according to Harris’ office.

Democrats raised concerns that the bill could fall short at a time when farmers and families are facing rising costs.

“Amid rising costs on everything from groceries to fertilizer and farm equipment, ensuring that our agriculture funding bill meets the needs of our farmers and of our families is essential,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, said in a statement to The Baltimore Sun. “Marylanders simply cannot afford more cuts to critical investments that help families put food on the table and support our farming communities.”

Van Hollen said he would monitor the bill as the Senate considers its version of the legislation.