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Legislative bills

Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2026 Funding Bills

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Senate Appropriations Committee has made significant strides in approving its draft fiscal year 2026 funding bills for the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies, as well as the Legislative Branch. The committee's vice chair, Patty Murray, emphasized the importance of bipartisanship in the face of immense challenges and threats to the legislative process. The approved bills include critical resources to support struggling families, rural communities, and cutting-edge technologies. Despite reservations, Vice Chair Murray expressed hope that the committee can continue advancing its bipartisan work while warning about the potential impact of Republicans passing President Trump's rescission request.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its draft fiscal year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies appropriations bill with a 27-0 vote.
  • The approved bill will help address high costs faced by Americans, invest in rural communities, and support farmers, among other critical initiatives.
  • The committee also approved the draft fiscal year 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill with a 26-1 vote.
  • The approved bill supports critical needs, including security, oversight, campus operations, and constituent services for Congress.
  • Vice Chair Murray expressed concern about the potential impact of Republicans passing President Trump's rescission request on the committee's bipartisan work.
  • The committee considered several amendments to the bills, including a Merkley amendment to fund extramural research at no less than fiscal year 2024 levels and a Murray amendment to modernize appointment processes for certain legislative branch agencies.

Statistics:

  • The approved Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies appropriations bill secured resources to support rural communities, farmers, and cutting-edge technologies.
  • The bill provides targeted increases for Ag Research, rural housing, and food safety, rejecting damaging proposed cuts.
  • The committee approved the draft fiscal year 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill with a 26-1 vote.
  • The approved bill supports critical needs, including security, oversight, campus operations, and constituent services for Congress.

Sources:

  • Senate Appropriations Committee press release
  • Remarks by Vice Chair Patty Murray
  • Remarks by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Subcommittee
  • Remarks by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee
  • Committee markup summaries and bill texts

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