House Passes $7.1 Billion Bill on Wic Program Benefit Reduction Legislation
The House passed the wic program benefit reduction legislation by a 213-210 vote on Thursday, approving a $7.1 billion agriculture, rural development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies appropriations bill. The measure now moves forward with funding tied to farm support, food and drug safety, and inspection programs.
House Vote on Cole Bill
The lower chamber voted 213-210 to pass the agriculture, rural development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and related agencies appropriations bill, with five Republicans voting against it and four Democrats voting in favor. Rep. Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma, argued that the legislation is necessary to protect American farmers.
Cole said the bill “delivers targeted investments to support farmers and ranchers, prioritize food and drug safety, and reinforces important research and innovation.” The bill allocates money to the FDA to keep foods, drugs and devices safe, and it directs $1.16 billion to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
FDA and Farm Funding
The legislation also includes money to enhance the tracking system of foreign-owned land. For farmers and ranchers, the immediate effect is the House’s endorsement of a funding package that covers both agricultural operations and the agencies that inspect food, animals, and plants.
That mix of programs makes the bill more than a single-agency measure. It links day-to-day farm oversight with consumer-facing food and drug safety work, while also financing research and land-tracking functions that Congress has kept inside the same appropriations bill.
Rural Strain and Trump
The vote came as farmers have openly expressed distress over declining quality of life while remaining largely loyal to President Donald Trump. In April, an Economist/YouGov poll found that 27 percent of rural respondents said it would be “impossible” to cover an unexpected $1,000 bill.
The Economist also reported in April that farmers remained largely supportive of Trump despite economic strain. Max Burns said rural communities now face a suicide rate 3.5 times the national average and climbing, as farmers buckle under the financial strain of agricultural tariffs, rising input costs, and a president who did not mention them once in his most recent State of the Union address.
With the House vote complete, the fight now shifts to how the bill fares in the next stage of appropriations work, with the funding levels and program details already set by the 213-210 margin.
