Chairman Boozman: Today’s Choice is Between Voting to Help Farmers or More Rhetoric

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) held a business meeting to mark up the Agricultural Act of 2026, legislation to modernize programs and policies in support of farmers, ranchers, foresters and rural communities.

The following is the Chairman’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Good morning. I call to order today’s business meeting of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to consider an original bill, the Agricultural Act of 2026, or what I like to call Farm Bill 2.0.

“Before I begin my formal comments, I would like to recognize my friend and colleague, Senator Mitch McConnell, who continues his recovery and is unable to join us for today's business meeting.

“I spoke with Senator McConnell yesterday. I know how much he would have wanted to be here to advocate for Kentucky's farmers and rural communities. Throughout his career, Senator McConnell has been a steadfast champion for the Bluegrass State's agricultural producers, advancing policies that expand opportunity, strengthen rural America, and enhance the competitiveness of American agriculture.

“He’s served on this committee his entire tenure in the Senate, and this is the eighth farm bill he has helped shape. Few members bring the depth of experience and institutional knowledge that he does or better understand how important this legislation is to America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

“His leadership has helped deliver meaningful solutions for the men and women who work every day to feed, fuel, and clothe our nation. We wish him a full and speedy recovery, and we look forward to welcoming him back to the committee soon.

“During this journey of drafting a new farm bill, I have visited many states. While I was in North Dakota with my good friend Senator Hoeven, a woman told me that we needed to put more “farm in the farm bill”. That statement stuck with me and has served as a mantra during this process.

“Last year we answered the call for more farm in the farm bill through the Working Families Tax Cuts.

“Those improvements delivered meaningful support to producers by strengthening commodity programs, expanding access to affordable crop insurance, improving disaster assistance, investing in animal health programs and making farm programs more responsive to the risks farmers face every today.

“The bill before you today, Farm Bill 2.0, is a sincere attempt to finalize our work for the farmers, ranchers, producers, and rural communities that are the backbone of our nation and give them the five-year farm bill they deserve. Beyond that, this legislation, once we adopt the en bloc amendment, represents the best and final offer I can make to address the concerns the minority has raised on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“I want to be clear a two-year delay does not have the support of the majority in Congress or of the White House. The offer before you is the best and final offer. Should this legislation be defeated today, current law will remain in effect and states with poorly administered SNAP programs will begin to pay for a portion of benefit costs next year.

“We have worked very hard to provide a one-year extension. In return, we have gotten “It’s two years or nothing. And by the way we don’t want to even discuss the farm bill until you give us two years.”

“How is that taking care of hardworking families trying to make a living in farm country? In the last year, Arkansas has had more farm bankruptcies than the last four and a half years combined.

“Finally, thanks to the efforts of Senators Fischer, Thune, Capito, and Daines we have included year-round E15. Today, Senators will have an opportunity for the first time to advance out of committee, legislation that will authorize the blending of E15 year-round.

“I’m proud of the bill we put together. It builds on the House-passed Farm Bill. This is the best opportunity to do good things for our farmers, rural communities and the future of agriculture.

“This bill incorporates more than 100 bipartisan bills and priorities from my colleagues with feedback from farmers, ranchers, and rural community leaders.

“We took great effort to craft a bipartisan product that reflects the needs and ideas of producers from every region of the country.

“In Arkansas, producers are facing extraordinarily difficult circumstances. I’ve heard firsthand from farm families whose roots in agriculture stretch back generations. Today, many are being forced to decide whether to continue operating at a loss or close their operations for good.

“I know every member of this committee has heard similar stories from farmers back home. These are families who rise before dawn every day to grow the food, fuel and fiber that sustain our nation.

“They aren't asking for special treatment—they're asking for the certainty and support they need to keep farming.

“They're looking to us to act. They're looking to us for hope.

“This Farm Bill provides that hope. It gives producers the tools and confidence they need to keep farming, keep investing, and keep feeding America.

“This legislation is about far more than agricultural policy. It's about ensuring family farms remain viable, rural communities remain strong, and future generations have the opportunity to carry forward America's proud agricultural tradition.

“We have built a farm bill for the people who feed America and today we’ll see who talks about supporting farmers and who is voting to help farmers.

“I now recognize the Ranking Member for any comments she may have.”

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