WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum voted against a House Republican-backed farm bill this week, saying the legislation would cut critical funding for farmers, reduce support for rural communities and leave key agricultural sectors behind.
The bill, H.R. 7567, includes changes to programs funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including reductions to conservation funding and support for certain growers, according to Bynum’s office.
Bynum, a Democrat representing Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, said she introduced 13 amendments during consideration of the bill in an effort to address concerns about its impact on farmers and rural communities. None of the amendments were adopted.
“I am a strong supporter of Oregon’s farms and farmers, but this bill did the opposite,” Bynum said. “It leaves Oregon’s farmers, producers, and families behind by cutting critical funding and programs that help lower costs for Oregonians. I tried to fix some of the issues with my amendments, but Republicans rejected them out of hand and instead went forward with this trash. I’ll never vote to hurt our farmers or our rural communities.”
Bynum’s proposed amendments focused on a range of issues affecting agricultural producers and rural residents, including support for specialty crop growers, housing access, wildfire prevention and rural development staffing.
Among the proposals was an amendment to provide $5 billion in emergency relief for specialty crop growers affected by tariffs, as well as a measure to study the impact of recent tariff increases on the agricultural sector.
Other amendments aimed to expand access to affordable housing in rural areas by raising income caps for federal housing loan programs and maintaining staffing levels within USDA rural housing and development offices.
Bynum also introduced measures focused on environmental and wildfire concerns, including a proposal to establish a $300 million annual fund for prescribed burns and a requirement that any U.S. Forest Service restructuring not increase wildfire risk.
Several amendments addressed protections for immigrants, including proposals to limit the use of USDA program data for immigration enforcement and prevent disclosure of personal information as a condition of receiving federal assistance.
Additional proposals included support for family-owned farmland through capital gains tax exemptions and expanded funding for specialty crop block grants.
The farm bill is one of the largest pieces of federal legislation affecting agriculture, nutrition programs and rural development. Debate over the measure often reflects broader disagreements over funding priorities, environmental policy and the role of federal support in the agricultural economy.
The legislation now moves forward in the congressional process, where additional negotiations and revisions are expected.
