WASHINGTON — Rep. Adam Gray (D-Merced) was one of seven Democrats to join 27 Republicans and help move the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 out of the House Committee on Agriculture and on to a full vote in the House of Representatives.
Commonly referred to as the Farm Bill, this is the multiyear law governs an array of agricultural and food programs that are essential to Valley growers and producers.
“I am proud to represent one of the world’s largest agricultural regions,” said Gray, whose 13th Congressional District includes portions of Turlock. “That’s why I am committed to delivering bipartisan results for Valley farmers, ranchers, dairymen, and their families. Committee passage of this Farm Bill is an important first step to ensure that our agricultural communities have the resources, support, and certainty they need to continue to feed families across the country."
The Farm Bill would expand risk management tools for farmers, protect American-grown commodities, and support precision agriculture and new technology. Specifically, the legislation supports specialty crop growers by strengthening research and development, doubling funding for the Market Access Program, the Foreign Market Development Program, and the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops programs. Additionally, it establishes a specialty crop advisory committee for policy development and expansion, expands procurement programs, and improves the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota), the ranking Democrat on the Ag Committee, criticized Republicans for continuing food assistance cuts and not opposing the Trump administration’s tariff policies that were recently struck down by the Supreme Court.
“Republicans picked the winners for new investment in the ‘big ugly bill’ and decimated Title 4 outside of regular order,” Craig said. “Now, they are refusing to invest new money in many farm programs that have stagnated after nearly a decade of inflation. This bill delivers what no one is asking for: the status quo.”
During markup of the legislation, the Committee unanimously passed two of Gray’s amendments offered on behalf of Central Valley farmers:
- Require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to report to Congress how changes to or expiration of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will affect the agriculture industry
- Provide states with the flexibility to allocate up to 20% of their Emergency Food Assistance Program funding towards the USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which allows states to use their resources on locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.
Additionally, Gray was also able to secure a commitment from committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) to secure billions in assistance for specialty crop growers through a future government funding bill. Valley specialty crops have been hit particularly hard over the past year due to trade uncertainty, rising input costs, and weakened market competition.
“These programs lead to a more effective and sustainable agriculture system and ultimately support our local communities,” said Caitie Diemel, executive director, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau.
“By backing a bill that strengthens export promotion, improves disaster and risk‑management tools for tree crops, invests in research, conservation, and precision agriculture, Congressman Gray is helping safeguard paychecks for farmworkers, growers, processors, and transportation workers who all depend on a competitive, resilient almond industry,” said Alexi Rodriguez, CEO of Almond Alliance.
Sen. John Boozman (R-Arkansas), the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, indicated recently he will introduce his own farm bill in the coming months. If the House and Senate each pass bills, the two chambers will reconcile a final bill to approve and send to President Donald Trump.
