May 1, 2026 – Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 was officially passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in a 224-200 vote.
The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, or commonly referred to as “Farm Bill 2.0,” builds upon the traditional Farm Bill provisions included in last year’s final passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in 2025.
Specifically, this legislation strengthens the operation of the Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) program by clarifying program authority and ensuring that the program remains fully operational during any future lapses in federal government funding. These updates reinforce the farm safety net and provide greater certainty for producers and market participants who rely on the MAL program for financial stability and market flexibility. The legislation also underscores continued support for agricultural export markets, which remain a top priority for the U.S. peanut industry.
In addition, the bill includes important provisions related to international and emergency food assistance programs—longstanding markets for U.S. peanut products. The allocation of $200 million annually to support emergency food assistance programs for the procurement and distribution of ready-to-use therapeutic foods will provide meaningful benefits to the entire U.S. peanut industry. Furthermore, transferring the authorities of the Food for Peace Act from the U.S. Agency for International Development to the U.S. Department of Agriculture will expand opportunities for program participation. The bill also reserves 50 percent of Food for Peace resources for U.S.-grown commodities, which will help ensure continued utilization of peanut products in these programs.
In his remarks prior to the House floor vote, U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson said, “It is more evident than ever that rural America needs a new farm bill now — not next year or next Congress. Producers are operating under the third consecutive farm bill extension, and the simple truth is that the policies of 2018 are no match for the challenges of 2026. It is time to get this critical legislation done.”
“The U.S. Peanut Federation appreciates the hard work of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee in completing the Farm Bill and leading the effort to pass the legislation on the House floor,” stated USPF Chairman Jamie Brown. “The assurance of operations to the Marketing Assistance Loan program are significant for improving the process for all peanut industry sectors. Additionally, new investments in food assistance programs will benefit the entire U.S. peanut industry. USPF thanks Charmain GT Thompson for his leadership and applauds the Members of Congress who supported farm communities by voting to pass this important legislation.”