Bill > S2256

This bill makes appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. * **Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Enforcement Activities:** $200,000,000 from tobacco product user fees for enforcement related to e-cigarettes, vapes, and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). This includes $2,000,000 for a multi-agency task force to combat illegal ENDS products from China and other foreign countries. The FDA is also required to update its enforcement priorities to include flavored disposable ENDS products and report semi-annually on efforts to remove illegal nicotine products from the market. * **Rural Business Development Grants:** $9,465,000 for fiscal year 2024 and $9,953,000 for fiscal year 2026 are allocated for additional Rural Business Development Grants under section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. * **Pilot Program for Rural Energy Projects:** $4,000,000 to support local Energy Circuit Riders who provide professional support to rural communities for energy-saving and emission-reducing projects. This program will provide grants, cooperative agreements, and other financial assistance to various entities, with a federal share not exceeding 75%. * **Bison Production and Marketing Grant Program:** $2,000,000 to establish a grant program similar to the Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program, prioritizing national non-profits and federally chartered Tribal organizations. * **Tribal Government Bison Processing and Inspection:** $700,000 for the Office of Tribal Relations to cover costs associated with the slaughtering, processing, and voluntary meat inspection fees for bison owned by Tribal governments, entities, and members. * **Pilot Program for Indian Tribe Nutrition Programs:** $2,000,000 to conduct up to 10 pilot projects awarding grants to Indian tribes and related entities to operate and implement school lunch, summer food service, child and adult care food, and school breakfast programs. * **Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance:** $3,000,000 for a grant program established under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. * **Water Bank Act Implementation:** $2,000,000 to implement non-renewable agreements on eligible lands, including flooded agricultural lands, under the Water Bank Act. * **Institute for Rural Partnerships:** $6,000,000 to continue the Institute for Rural Partnerships, focusing on researching challenges in rural areas and developing community partnerships. * **Working Group for Section 770:** $500,000 to carry out the duties of a working group established under previous appropriations acts. * **Rural Housing Service Pilot Program:** $2,000,000 for a pilot program to provide technical assistance to Rural Housing Service multi-family housing borrowers to facilitate property preservation through acquisition by non-profit organizations and public housing authorities. * **Section 32 Commodity Purchases:** The bill sets a limit of $1,574,028,000 for salaries and expenses for programs under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, with specific allocations for entitlement commodities, state option contracts, removal of defective commodities, and administration of commodity purchases. Unobligated balances from fiscal year 2026 will carry over to fiscal year 2027. * **General Provisions:** The bill includes various provisions regarding the use of funds, including restrictions on certain types of travel, requirements for computer network security, limitations on indirect cost rates for cooperative agreements, and rules for reprogramming funds. It also specifies that no funds shall be used to close or consolidate Natural Resources Conservation Service or Rural Development field offices with two or fewer employees without prior congressional approval. Additionally, it mandates that at least 10% of funds for certain rural housing and development programs be allocated to persistent poverty counties.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2256/all-info