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Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement on the 2026 Farm Bill:

"The Republican Farm Bill will hurt families and farmers, paving the way to more cruelty and exploitation of helpless animals. Americans are struggling with the consequences of Trump's disastrous tariffs and soaring food prices, all while Republicans are making deep cuts to the very programs that help them put food on the table. This year's Farm Bill makes life harder by removing funding for fruit and vegetable incentive programs, granting liability exemptions for multi-billion-dollar pesticide corporations, blocking states from pursuing local health and safety protections, and more. It also threatens hard-fought animal welfare protections by undermining laws like California’s Proposition 12, which banned the extreme confinement of many farm animals, and opens the door to taxpayer subsidies for inhumane industries like mink fur farming, where animals are kept in cruel conditions for luxury products.

"This legislation doesn’t just fail to meet this urgent moment, prioritize our economy, or help the American people - it exposes Republicans' loyalty to pesticide corporations and disdain for animal protections. I'll be voting no."