The document includes $12 billion for agriculture
U.S. lawmakers are calling for more funding to support American farmers.
The House Budget Committee passed on July 16 a $95 billion budget blueprint of which $12 billion would be earmarked for the House Agriculture Committee for the fiscal period of 2027 to 2036.
The reconciliation bill also includes spending for defense and election security measures.
“Republicans are united and undeterred in our fight to restre America’s greatness,” Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington said in a statement.
The Ag Committee is now tasked with identifying how the $12 billion is spent before sending the bill back to the Budget Committee.
The Budget Committee passed the bill the same day two American Farm Bureau Federation economists outlined why economic support is needed.
“Additional financial support is critical to offset trade-related losses, rising input costs and the deep financial pressure facing U.S. row crop, specialty crop, hay and sugar producers,” a summary says. “This support would help stabilize the farm economy, sustain rural communities and maintain a strong domestic food supply.”
This funding request also aligns with a directive from President Trump.
In June, the president asked Congress for $11.1 billion to help farmers managing higher production costs.
Some groups, however, are critical of the new funding ask.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group which advocates for public policy that reduces federal budget deficits, says this reconciliation bill does the opposite.
“Lawmakers have once again decided to abandon any semblance of fiscal discipline and allow themselves to add more to our nation’s already massive national debt,” Maya MacGuineas, the organization’s president, said in a statement. “This budget resolution continues the recent trend of making a mockery out of the budget process – it’s a false budget purely intended to shuffle through increases in defense funding and other priorities.”