Floor SpeechBipartisan2026-04-30

BILL (H.R. 7567) TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFORM AND CONTINUATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2031, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EnvironmentTradeEducationInfrastructureAgriculture

Context

On 2026-04-30, Representative Derek Schmidt (R-KS-2) delivered a floor speech titled "BILL (H.R. 7567) TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFORM AND CONTINUATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRI" in the House. The speech addressed the environment and also covered trade policy, education. It referenced legislation: HR7567.

Full Text

BILL (H.R. 7567) TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFORM AND CONTINUATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2031, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E400-E401] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] BILL (H.R. 7567) TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFORM AND CONTINUATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2031, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES ______ speech of HON. DEREK SCHMIDT of kansas in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Mr. SCHMIDT. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, No. 43, which would direct the secretaries of agriculture and health and human services to enter into a memorandum of understanding to conduct collaborative research related to increasing the domestic production of crops that can be used to produce natural food colors. With growing interest among consumers in foods containing no synthetic food dyes, the demand for natural alternatives is increasing. Currently, the United States lacks domestic production of natural food dyes, requiring these dyes to be sourced from overseas. This increased demand for natural food colors presents an opportunity for American agriculture to step into the gap and grow the crops necessary to produce the brightly colored foods that so many of us enjoy. Working together, under the direction of my amendment, USDA and HHS will work to identify the barriers that exist to producing these crops domestically and processing them into the natural dyes that can be used by American food companies. I am grateful to Chairman Thompson and the Agriculture Committee staff for working with me on this amendment and for including it in the en bloc amendment. I am also grateful to the industry groups who worked with us on this issue. I include in the Record a letter of support for my amendment signed by seven industry groups. Mr. Chair, thank you for your consideration. I urge the adoption of my amendment as part of the en bloc package, and passage of the long- overdue Farm Bill. April 28, 2026. Hon. Derek Schmidt, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Schmidt: As representatives of food and ingredient manufacturers and suppliers, we write to share our support for your Amendment #204 to H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate activities to enhance the capacity of domestic producers to increase production of crops used in naturally derived food and beverage colorants. The U.S. food industry is currently managing a complex, system-wide shift in how color ingredients are sourced, produced, and incorporated into finished products. This transition is being driven by evolving regulatory frameworks and supply chain realities that will require alignment across agricultural production, ingredient processing, manufacturing systems, and distribution and retail channels. Coordinated federal engagement between USDA and HHS is essential to ensure that these interconnected elements develop in a practical, efficient, and economically viable manner. Enhancing the capacity of domestic producers to increase production of colorant crops presents a meaningful opportunity for U.S. agriculture, but doing so at scale will require deliberate planning, sustained research, and targeted investment. Key considerations include agronornic suitability across regions, identification of crops most effective for reliable colorant production, crop genetics, and the need to address barriers to scale such as pest and disease pressures, harvesting technology, and other production challenges. In addition, investment in processing and extraction infrastructure--such as juicing and extraction facilities-- and the development of stable, predictable markets for growers will be essential. In the absence of coordinated efforts, these factors may limit the pace, efficiency, and affordability with which domestic production capacity can be developed. At the same time, the current supply chain for many naturally derived colorant inputs is global in nature. U.S. manufacturers rely on established international sourcing channels, which introduces exposure to trade dynamics, regional production variability, and logistical constraints. Federal coordination that considers both domestic production capacity and global sourcing dependencies can help support continuity of supply as domestic capabilities are developed over time. From a manufacturing perspective, incorporating naturally derived colorants involves significant operational considerations. These ingredients often require different handling, processing conditions, and quality control approaches than traditional alternatives, and their successful integration may necessitate capital investments, process modifications, and updated supply chain management practices. Coordinated research, development, and demonstration of methods and technologies, along with information sharing across stakeholders, will be important to support efficient implementation while maintaining product consistency and regulatory compliance. Your amendment appropriately recognizes that this is not a single-agency issue. By establishing a framework for interagency coordination, competitive and merit-reviewed research, and collaboration across federal agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners, the amendment creates a strong foundation for advancing this work. Support for research infrastructure, workforce development, and public-private collaboration will be critical to translating research into scalable, real-world outcomes and sustaining progress over time. [[Page E401]] Thank you for your leadership on this issue and for your attention to the operational and economic considerations facing both U.S. agriculture and food manufacturers. We stand ready to serve as a resource as this effort moves forward and strongly encourage the House of Representatives to adopt your amendment. Sincerely, National Confectioners Association, Consumer Brands Association, International Dairy Foods Association, Independent Bakers Association, SNAC International, American Bakers Association, National Seasoning Manufacturers Association. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR7567, HR7567

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BILL (H.R. 7567) TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFORM AND CONTINUATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2031, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E400-E401] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] BILL (H.R. 7567) TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFORM AND CONTINUATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2031, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES ______ speech of HON. DEREK SCHMIDT of kansas in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Mr. SCHMIDT. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, No. 43, which would direct the secretaries of agriculture and health and human services to enter into a memorandum of understanding to conduct collaborative research related to increasing the domestic production of crops that can be used to produce natural food colors. With growing interest among consumers in foods containing no synthetic food dyes, the demand for natural alternatives is increasing. Currently, the United States lacks domestic production of natural food dyes, requiring these dyes to be sourced from overseas. This increased demand for natural food colors presents an opportunity for American agriculture to step into the gap and grow the crops necessary to produce the brightly colored foods that so many of us enjoy. Working together, under the direction of my amendment, USDA and HHS will work to identify the barriers that exist to producing these crops domestically and processing them into the natural dyes that can be used by American food companies. I am grateful to Chairman Thompson and the Agriculture Committee staff for working with me on this amendment and for including it in the en bloc amendment. I am also grateful to the industry groups who worked with us on this issue. I include in the Record a letter of support for my amendment signed by seven industry groups. Mr. Chair, thank you for your consideration. I urge the adoption of my amendment as part of the en bloc package, and passage of the long- overdue Farm Bill. April 28, 2026. Hon. Derek Schmidt, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Schmidt: As representatives of food and ingredient manufacturers and suppliers, we write to share our support for your Amendment #204 to H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate activities to enhance the capacity of domestic producers to increase production of crops used in naturally derived food and beverage colorants. The U.S. food industry is currently managing a complex, system-wide shift in how color ingredients are sourced, produced, and incorporated into finished products. This transition is being driven by evolving regulatory frameworks and supply chain realities that will require alignment across agricultural production, ingredient processing, manufacturing systems, and distribution and retail channels. Coordinated federal engagement between USDA and HHS is essential to ensure that these interconnected elements develop in a practical, efficient, and economically viable manner. Enhancing the capacity of domestic producers to increase production of colorant crops presents a meaningful opportunity for U.S. agriculture, but doing so at scale will require deliberate planning, sustained research, and targeted investment. Key considerations include agronornic suitability across regions, identification of crops most effective for reliable colorant production, crop genetics, and the need to address barriers to scale such as pest and disease pressures, harvesting technology, and other production challenges. In addition, investment in processing and extraction infrastructure--such as juicing and extraction facilities-- and the development of stable, predictable markets for growers will be essential. In the absence of coordinated efforts, these factors may limit the pace, efficiency, and affordability with which domestic production capacity can be developed. At the same time, the current supply chain for many naturally derived colorant inputs is global in nature. U.S. manufacturers rely on established international sourcing channels, which introduces exposure to trade dynamics, regional production variability, and logistical constraints. Federal coordination that considers both domestic production capacity and global sourcing dependencies can help support continuity of supply as domestic capabilities are developed over time. From a manufacturing perspective, incorporating naturally derived colorants involves significant operational considerations. These ingredients often require different handling, processing conditions, and quality control approaches than traditional alternatives, and their successful integration may necessitate capital investments, process modifications, and updated supply chain management practices. Coordinated research, development, and demonstration of methods and technologies, along with information sharing across stakeholders, will be important to support efficient implementation while maintaining product consistency and regulatory compliance. Your amendment appropriately recognizes that this is not a single-agency issue. By establishing a framework for interagency coordination, competitive and merit-reviewed research, and collaboration across federal agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners, the amendment creates a strong foundation for advancing this work. Support for research infrastructure, workforce development, and public-private collaboration will be critical to translating research into scalable, real-world outcomes and sustaining progress over time. [[Page E401]] Thank you for your leadership on this issue and for your attention to the operational and economic considerations facing both U.S. agriculture and food manufacturers. We stand ready to serve as a resource as this effort moves forward and strongly encourage the House of Representatives to adopt your amendment. Sincerely, National Confectioners Association, Consumer Brands Association, International Dairy Foods Association, Independent Bakers Association, SNAC International, American Bakers Association, National Seasoning Manufacturers Association. ____________________ Referenced legislation: HR7567, HR7567