Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett sharply criticized the House passage of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, calling it a sweeping failure for American families, farmers, and vulnerable communities.
In a statement following the vote, Plaskett framed the Farm Bill as a missed opportunity at a moment when rising input costs, high grocery prices, and broader economic strain are squeezing households nationwide. Instead of delivering relief, she argued, the legislation enacts what she described as the largest cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in history, stripping $187 billion in food assistance.
According to Plaskett, more than 40 million Americans could see benefits reduced or eliminated, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 1.2 million veterans, and 4 million individuals with disabilities. She emphasized that residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands—particularly working families, children, and elderly citizens—would feel the impact acutely. “This is not a policy choice,” she said. “It is a moral failure.”
Beyond nutrition assistance, Plaskett criticized provisions that override state-level food production standards approved by voters and upheld by the Supreme Court. She also pointed to nearly $800 million in cuts to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, a key resource that helps farmers manage land, reduce costs, and maintain sustainability.
Plaskett argued the bill falls short for rural communities and emerging agricultural producers, particularly farmers of color. She highlighted the removal of legal set-asides in USDA lending for beginning farmers and weakening of the 2501 Program, which supports underserved agricultural communities. These changes come, she noted, as farm bankruptcies have risen sharply and incomes are projected to decline further.
Despite her opposition, Plaskett underscored a provision she successfully secured: a requirement for the Department of Agriculture to study aquaculture development opportunities in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. She described aquaculture as a promising path for economic growth and food security in the territories.
Plaskett concluded by urging the Senate to craft a bipartisan alternative that restores food assistance, supports struggling farmers, and invests meaningfully in rural and territorial communities.
