John Hoeven (R-ND)
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 112.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill makes funding decisions for agriculture, rural development, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. It allocates money for farm programs, research, and conservation operations across the country. The legislation provides billions of dollars for domestic food assistance programs, including child nutrition and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also funds rural housing loans, community facilities, and rural utility services to support infrastructure in small towns. Finally, the measure sets rules and restrictions on how government agencies can spend these funds and manage their programs.
Yes· 3 of 39
- Scored +9
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Extensively funds rural housing, water systems, electricity, broadband, community facilities, and rural business development.
- Scored +8
Would farmers be better off under this?
Provides comprehensive funding for farm programs, crop insurance, agricultural research, credit loans, and conservation.
- Scored +8
Does this invest in rural communities?
Extensively funds rural water systems, community facilities, broadband expansion, and agricultural development.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Rural Water Systems: Under the heading for the Rural Utilities Service, funds are designated for direct loans, water and waste disposal systems, and technical assistance grants to help small and distressed communities improve their water and wastewater infrastructure.
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Child Nutrition Programs: Title IV provides billions of dollars to carry out child nutrition programs, which helps schools serve meals to children and provides funding for equipment needed to serve healthier meals.
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Housing Assistance and Preservation: Title III provides funding for rural housing insurance funds, direct loans, and grants to help low-income residents, farm laborers, and Native American tribes access safe and affordable housing.
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Broadband Access: Title III provides funding for a broadband loan and grant pilot program and the Community Connect Grant Program to bring internet access to rural areas lacking sufficient service.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Rescissions of Prior Funding: Sections 767 through 771 rescind millions of dollars in unobligated balances from prior year appropriations for conservation operations, research, Food for Peace grants, broadband programs, and the Working Capital Fund, which could reduce available resources for these activities.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Extensively funds rural housing, water systems, electricity, broadband, community facilities, and rural business development. Would farmers be better off under this? — Provides comprehensive funding for farm programs, crop insurance, agricultural research, credit loans, and conservation. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Allocates major funding for SNAP, WIC, commodity assistance, and low-income rural housing programs. Would children be better off under this? — Funds child nutrition programs, school lunch initiatives, and WIC to support children's health and nutrition. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Provides dedicated funding, grants, and technical assistance for tribal colleges, Native American housing programs, and tribal public health initiatives. Would business owners be better off under this? — Provides access to business and industry loans, microentrepreneur assistance, and agricultural market development. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Supports senior farmers' market nutrition programs and affordable housing options for older rural residents. Would students be better off under this? — Funds school breakfast and lunch programs along with agricultural education and research grants. Would women be better off under this? — Funds the WIC program and specialized health and nutrition support for women, infants, and children. Would retired people be better off under this? — Supports community health facilities and housing preservation that benefit older populations living in rural areas. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Includes set-asides and targeted program support for 1890 land-grant institutions and underserved communities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Supports programs assisting minority farmers, ranchers, and underserved rural populations. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Provides business loans and community facility investments supporting working-age adults in rural areas. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Improves community infrastructure, water systems, and broadband access in rural and suburban areas. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Supports rural job creation and educational grants that benefit younger demographics in agricultural communities.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Extensively funds rural water systems, community facilities, broadband expansion, and agricultural development. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — Supports the Rural Energy for America Program and rural energy pilot projects. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Funds emergency watershed protection and disaster assistance programs for agricultural producers. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Funds conservation operations, watershed protection, and hazardous materials management. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Provides funding for energy efficiency measures and programs supporting renewable energy and emission reductions in rural areas. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Supports natural resources conservation and soil and water management operations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — Provides substantial funding for rural housing insurance funds, rental assistance programs, and housing preservation grants. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Allocates billions of dollars for domestic food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, along with targeted persistent poverty county set-asides. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Includes targeted funding and set-asides for socially disadvantaged farmers, Native American tribes, and historically underserved communities. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Funds rural housing loans and emergency shelter grants that help vulnerable populations maintain stable housing.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Provides dedicated funding for rural business development grants, microentrepreneur assistance, and agricultural marketing initiatives. Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Funds Food and Drug Administration activities and food safety inspection services to safeguard consumers. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Appropriations for agricultural research, rural infrastructure, and business programs support steady economic activity in agricultural sectors. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill funds various rural development and infrastructure programs that support job creation in small towns. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The legislation includes specific rescissions of prior year balances and oversight provisions.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — Provides substantial funding for broadband loan and grant pilot programs and the Community Connect Grant Program in rural areas. Does this put more money into public schools? — Allocates billions for child nutrition programs and school meal equipment grants. Does this put more money into scientific research? — Funds scientific research through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Allocates dedicated funding for departmental cybersecurity requirements and information technology protection. Does this make trade with other countries easier? — Supports the Foreign Agricultural Service and export credit guarantee programs to promote U.S. agricultural exports. Does this send more money or help to other countries? — Provides funding for international food assistance programs such as Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole program.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — Allocates significant funding for agricultural and toxicological research through the Agricultural Research Service and FDA. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Includes a pilot program providing technical assistance to help rural hospitals improve their long-term operations.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires detailed obligation plans, audit reports, and rigorous congressional notification procedures for fund transfers.
- 7/10/2025
- Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Hoeven. With written report No. 119-37.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 112.
- Introduced in Senate
- 5/22/2025
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. Hearings held on the subject prior to the subcommittee ordering to be reported an original measure. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-61.
- 5/6/2025
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. Hearings held on the subject prior to the subcommittee ordering to be reported an original measure. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-61.
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- 119-HR-3944: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-HR-4121: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-HR-5371: Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026