WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22), a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This is the second full-year government funding bill to pass the House for Fiscal Year 2027.

“As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I was proud to help pass the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bill delivers critical investments for the Central Valley by strengthening rural development programs, helping farmers and ranchers access disaster assistance and Farm Service Agency loans, and supporting nutrition programs that help our most vulnerable put food on the table. It also increases funding for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to combat invasive pests and diseases, including the glassy-winged sharpshooter, New World screwworm, and navel orangeworm, which pose a direct threat to our region’s agricultural industry. I was also proud to secure over $1.3 million in Community Project Funding for the Vineland Elementary School District and the Tulare County Fire Department to improve critical water infrastructure and enhance emergency response capabilities in our communities. Advancing this bill through the House is an important step toward completing the full-year funding process, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to get it over the finish line and ensure our families, farmers, and communities have the resources they deserve.”

Key investments secured by Congressman Valadao in the FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act include:

• $1.25 million for the Vineland Elementary School District in Bakersfield to construct a new primary water line to ensure adequate water flow for emergency response, support the addition of new classrooms, and provide a safe, modern educational facility for students and staff. 
• $600,000 for the Tulare County Fire Department to purchase a new water tender to strengthen emergency response capabilities across Tulare County, particularly in rural and underserved areas where access to a reliable water supply is limited.

Additional highlights include:

• $1.79 billion for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), including increases in funding to help discover resilient citrus breeding varieties, pest management and detection methods, and water resource management.
• $1.158 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), including increases for animal health and specialty crop programs and funding to combat invasive pests like glassy-winged sharpshooter, New World screwworm, and navel orangeworm.
• $1.1 billion for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to help farmers access disaster relief, receive funds from commodity programs, acquire loans, and plan for next year.
• $3.81 billion for rural development programs, including affordable housing rental assistance, the Section 502 homeownership loan program, and rural broadband grants and loans.
• $37.9 billion for Child Nutrition programs—an increase of $59 million above the FY26 enacted level—including funding for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Summer Food Programs.
• $8 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and $101.2 billion in mandatory funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help put food on the tables of our most vulnerable. 
• $460 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to help feed lower-income senior citizens.
• $900 million for the Food for Peace Program and $240 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. Both programs purchase commodities from CA-22 farmers and producers, helping combat malnutrition in developing nations and supporting our local economy.

Read the full bill here.

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