Bill > HR8646

This bill makes appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027. * The bill includes provisions for the Department of Agriculture to purchase new passenger motor vehicles, with limitations on the total number of vehicles and a requirement for Congressional notification for increases above the 2018 fleet level. * Unobligated discretionary funds within the Department of Agriculture can be transferred to the Working Capital Fund for IT services and infrastructure improvements, with prior approval from agency administrators and Congressional notification for obligations. * Funds appropriated by this Act generally remain available only for the current fiscal year unless expressly stated otherwise. * The bill limits the use of funds for indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements with nonprofit institutions to 10% of the total direct cost. * Appropriations for direct and guaranteed loans for Rural Development, Rural Electrification and Telecommunication, and Rural Housing Insurance Fund program accounts remain available until expended for obligations made in the current fiscal year. * Funds for information technology systems require approval from the Chief Information Officer and the Executive Information Technology Investment Review Board, with specific thresholds for Congressional notification. * Unobligated balances for Farm Service Agency salaries and expenses can remain available for IT expenses through September 30, 2028, up to $20,000,000. * The bill allocates $1,717,000,000 for Child Nutrition Programs, including entitlement commodities, state option contracts, removal of defective commodities, and administration of commodity purchases, with provisions for carryover of unobligated balances. * The bill prohibits the use of funds for first-class travel by employees of agencies funded by this Act. * The bill includes provisions for the Commodity Credit Corporation to use funds for salaries and administrative expenses related to program implementation, without regard to certain limitations. * A maximum of $2,900,000 is allocated for advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task forces within the Department of Agriculture. * The bill prohibits the use of funds to maintain or establish a computer network that does not block the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography, with exceptions for law enforcement activities. * The bill includes provisions for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding enforcement activities related to e-cigarettes, vapes, and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), allocating at least $200,000,000 from tobacco product user fees for these activities. * The bill prohibits the use of funds to procure raw or processed poultry products or seafood imported from the People's Republic of China for school lunch programs. * The bill requires at least 10 percent of funds for certain Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service programs to be allocated for assistance in persistent poverty counties. * The bill prohibits the use of funds to implement or enforce certain rules related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) until the definition of "variety" is amended. * The bill includes provisions for the Secretary of Agriculture to assess a one-time fee for guaranteed business and industry loans, not exceeding 3 percent of the guaranteed principal. * The bill prohibits the use of funds for the Department of Agriculture to propose, finalize, or implement any new user fees. * The bill allows the Secretary to charge establishments for inspection services provided outside of approved inspection shifts and on Federal holidays, with collected sums remaining available until expended for FSIS inspections. * The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct and make publicly available audits evaluating veterinary control, disease history, livestock demographics, surveillance, and other factors in audited countries or regions. * The bill mandates that iron and steel products used in rural water, wastewater, waste disposal, and solid waste management projects must be produced in the United States, with exceptions for public interest, availability, or cost increases exceeding 25 percent. * The bill prohibits the use of funds to influence congressional action on legislation or appropriations matters. * The bill prohibits the use of funds to fly or display any flag other than specific authorized flags over facilities of the Department of Agriculture, FDA, CFTC, or Farm Credit Administration. * The bill prohibits the use of funds to close or consolidate Agricultural Research Service laboratories and facilities without prior notification and approval from Congressional Committees. * The bill appropriates $2,000,000 for carrying out section 758 of division B of Public Law 118-42. * The bill prohibits the FDA from issuing or promoting new guidelines or regulations for low-risk ready-to-eat foods regarding Listeria monocytogenes until new science is considered. * The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to amend covered Food Packages to include peanut-containing foods for early introduction of potentially allergenic foods. * The bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act regarding the school breakfast program. * The bill exempts premium pay for Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) employees responding to animal disease or plant health emergencies from certain pay limitations. * The bill prohibits the use of funds to inspect horses or implement/enforce certain regulations related to horse inspection. * The bill prohibits the use of funds to write, prepare, or publish proposed or final rules related to poultry grower contracting, tournaments, and payment systems, and requires the withdrawal of such proposed rules. * The bill prohibits the use of funds to implement or enforce a reduced maximum allowable loan limit of 60 percent for certain loans unless a proposed rule with notice and comment is finalized. * The bill requires that the acceptable market name of any engineered animal approved before February 19, 2019, must include the words "genetically engineered." * The bill directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to conduct research and development regarding an index-based policy to insure crops against losses due to frost or cold weather events. * The bill prohibits the use of funds for enforcement of certain regulations regarding surplus broiler hatching eggs sold to egg breakers. * The bill allows agencies and offices of the Department of Agriculture to reimburse the Office of the General Counsel for services provided under time-limited agreements. * The bill prohibits discriminatory action against individuals based on sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions regarding marriage. * The bill rescinds $40,000,000 from prior year appropriations for a broadband loan and grant pilot program. * The bill appropriates $1,500,000 for the emergency and transitional pet shelter and housing assistance grant program. * The bill prohibits the imposition of cost-sharing or matching requirements for awards or subawards under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for fiscal year 2027. * The bill appropriates $2,500,000 for the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. * The bill amends the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to include millet. * The bill amends provisions related to the Arkansas Valley Conduit repayment contract. * The bill appropriates $1,000,000 for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program to award grants to processors of invasive, wild-caught catfish. * The bill establishes new provisions for animal food regulation, including preemption of state laws, definitions, and requirements for timely review of ingredient submissions. * The bill prohibits the use of funds to enforce certain traceability record requirements for food prior to July 20, 2028, and outlines FDA actions related to these requirements. * The bill provides liability protections for persons, nonprofit organizations, and state/local governments donating apparently fit pet-related products.