WHAT HAPPENED: The House of Representatives yesterday — by a vote of 213-210 — passed its version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agency Appropriations Act of 2027. The bill funds agricultural and food programs and services, including food and medical product safety, animal and plant health programs, rural development and farm services, marketplace oversight and nutrition programs. A summary of the bill is available here.
WHY IT MATTERS: The bill passed with two provisions included that are supported by NCC and important to the broiler industry. The first would rescind several Biden-era Packers and Stockyards regulations, including: the final rule entitled “Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments;” the final rule entitled “Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act;” the final rule entitled “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems;” and the proposed rule entitled “Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets.”
A separate provision would allow surplus broiler hatching eggs to be sold into the breaker market, similar to NCC’s past petitions and bills introduced in Congress.
NCC’s TAKE: NCC advocated for the inclusion of these two provisions, urged final passage of the bill, and we are pleased it contains support for a number of chicken producers’ priorities. “I want to thank Chairmen Cole and Harris for their leadership and for getting this bill over the finish line in the House,” said NCC President Harrison Kircher.
WHAT ELSE IS IN THE BILL: $1.226 billion for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which is $10.8 million above the FY26 enacted level, to fund meat and poultry inspectors.
WHAT’s NEXT: The Senate will take up its version of the spending bill, but the timeframe is unknown.
Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) speaks the committee mark-up of the bill
