Reps. Adam Gray (D-Merced) and Tom McClintock (R-El Dorado Hills), both of whom represent portions of Turlock, voted in favor Thursday of House Resolution 7567 – the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 – to help it pass through the full House of Representatives.

The legislation passed with a 224-200 vote and now goes to the Senate, where lawmakers have butted heads on several provisions of the legislation.

“Passing a bipartisan Farm Bill gives Valley farmers and ranchers the certainty they need to plan, manage risk, and keep producing,” said Gray, who spent five terms in the state Assembly before winning the 13th Congressional District seat in 2024. “It strengthens support for American-grown products and invests in the tools needed to stay competitive. This is about keeping agriculture strong in the Central Valley.”

McClintock was not as complimentary of the bill as a whole.

“There is much to dislike in this Farm Bill, including the fraud-ridden SNAP program and subsidies that ultimately inflate the costs of everything from commodities to insurance, while hiding them for the recipients of these subsidies,” said McClintock. “However, I consider it a very high priority for the people of the Sierra Nevada to restore sound forest management to our federal lands. This includes two of my bills: HR 178 and 179. HR 178 cuts the red tape that is preventing us from thinning our forests and HR 179 requires federal agencies to put out fires immediately when they are first spotted.

McClintock did praise the bill’s work requirement for able-bodied adults for food stamps, and its prevention of illegal aliens from accessing the program and the requirement of more frequent eligibility checks.

“The fraud in this program is off the charts and these provisions promise to save about $200 billion over the next ten years,” McClintock said.

Gray’s amendment to protect Specialty Crop Block Grant Program by prohibiting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from implementing dangerous cost-sharing or matching requirements, was passed unanimously.

A member of the House Agriculture Committee, Gray was able to push through two amendments during the markup process in March. The first allows states the flexibility to allocate up to 20 percent of their Emergency Food Assistance Program funding toward the USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program, expanding procurement opportunities for the fresh products grown in the Valley. The second requires the USDA to report to Congress how changes to or expiration of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will affect the agriculture industry.

In addition, Gray led efforts to support 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, he supported the establishment of a specialty crop advisory committee for policy development and expansion, expansion of procurement programs, and improvements to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

Protection of the Special Crop Block Grant Program – funds that enhance the competitiveness of states’ specialty crops – drew praise from the ag community:

• “The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture thanks Reps. Adam Gray, David Valadao (R-Hanford), and the many cosponsors of the bipartisan amendment that prohibits USDA from imposing cost-sharing or matching requirements on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, thereby protecting the program's viability. Their leadership ensures the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program will continue to benefit specialty crop producers by providing a flexible program that improves outcomes for the sector.” – Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
• “The importance of congressional representatives focused on California agriculture cannot be overstated. The California Farm Bureau appreciates Rep. Adam Gray’s work on the 2026 Farm Bill, particularly his amendment to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. A practical Farm Bill ensures California’s farmers and ranchers remain competitive both at home and in the global market. We urge the Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass the Farm Bill.” – Shannon Douglass, president of the California Farm Bureau
• "The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance commends Rep. Adam Gray for his strong support of our industry. Building on his success in adding more fruits and vegetables to government procurement programs during the Agriculture Committee's consideration of the farm bill, he has also secured a crucial amendment on the House floor to protect the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. His bipartisan work in support of a new five-year farm bill is key to enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crop growers in California and across the United States, and we thank him.” – Jonathon Cordone, executive director of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance
• "At a time when fruit and vegetable growers across the nation are facing strong economic headwinds, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program continues to be one of the most effective tools we have to support specialty crop growers across the country. This strength lies in its flexibility, which allows states to tailor investments to the unique needs of their producers - whether that's research, marketing, or innovation. We appreciate Congressman Gray's leadership in protecting the integrity of this program and ensuring it remains accessible and workable for our fresh produce growers and state partners. Maintaining that flexibility is critical to keeping our industry competitive and continuing to deliver for American agriculture.” – Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association