Rep. Boebert Secures Key Wins for Colorado Farmers and Rural Communities as House Passes Agriculture Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) celebrated the House passage of H.R. 8646, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027, which delivers critical support for America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities while advancing major priorities for Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District.
Rep. Boebert represents thousands of hardworking farmers and ranchers who raise livestock and grow wheat, corn, millet, and other vital crops that feed our nation and power local economies.
“Today’s passage of H.R. 8646 is a win for agriculture and rural communities across Colorado's 4th Congressional District,” said Rep. Boebert. “H.R. 8646 includes five of my amendments that direct $10 million from administrative offices and back-office bureaucracy to important programs at the USDA that will help our farmers, ranchers, landowners, and rural communities.”
Background:
The Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act makes critical, targeted investments in American farmers, agriculture, research, and rural development programs that put the health, safety, and prosperity of Americans first.
Congresswoman Boebert successfully passed five amendments through the House of Representatives to H.R. 8646. These amendments include:
Boebert (CO) #1: Redirects $2 million in funding from bureaucracy to the Office of the Inspector General to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.
Boebert (CO) #2: Redirects $2 million in funding from bureaucracy to the Farm Service Agency.
Boebert (CO) #3: Redirects $2 million in funding from bureaucracy to Rural Development Programs.
Boebert (CO) #4: Redirects $2 million in funding from bureaucracy to Rural Utilities Service.
Boebert (CO) #5: Redirects $2 million in funding from bureaucracy to the Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Operations.
Additionally, Rep. Boebert successfully included language designating millet as a specialty crop — a significant victory for farmers on Colorado’s eastern plains that will unlock new opportunities and resources for this important crop.
The bill also advances Rep. Boebert’s Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Act, delivering long-awaited progress on critical water infrastructure for southeastern Colorado communities. This legislation helps provide clean, reliable water to tens of thousands of Coloradans by addressing repayment challenges for this vital project.
The bill also included one of Congresswoman Boebert’s Community Project Funding Requests. The Republican River Basin Rangeland Resilience and Watershed Protection Initiative is funded at $850,000. This project will restore rangeland resilience by treating approximately 8,900 acres of cheatgrass-infested rangeland across Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Washington, and Yuma counties.