I will work diligently to ensure that the Farm Bill will ... strengthen research in the ag sector
Work to ensure the Farm Bill strengthens research in the agricultural sector.
Occurrences
Evidence
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Cline joined House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson in hosting an agriculture listening session as Congress began taking up the FY2024 farm bill. The release says the session brought together more than 50 farmers and ag stakeholders and was meant to showcase Virginia agriculture priorities ahead of farm bill work.
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Cline's annual farm tour included Virginia Tech's Alson H. Smith Jr. Agriculture Research and Extension Center, described as a research center serving horticultural fruit industries by developing tools and technologies that enhance sustainability and support commercial producers. The tour was held to hear farmer needs and concerns as Congress worked on agriculture policy.
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Cline wrote that through his role on the House Appropriations Committee's Agriculture Subcommittee he helped secure $21.9 billion for USDA, including investments that expand markets, fuel agricultural research, and sustain rural economies. He also said he is committed to using appropriations to strengthen agriculture and keep supporting farmers.
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Congress's farm bill timeline shows that after the 2018 farm bill expired, Congress enacted a one-year extension in 2023 and another one-year extension in 2024. The CRS summary says the latest extension continued authorizations only through September 30, 2025, indicating no new farm bill had been enacted by that point.
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House Roll Call 154 recorded H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, as an On Passage vote with status Passed, 224 yeas and 200 nays. The vote table lists Cline, Republican, Virginia, voting Yea.
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Rules Committee Print 119-22 says it shows the text of H.R. 7567 as ordered reported by the Committee on Agriculture, with modifications. The text includes a Specialty Crop Mechanization and Automation Research and Extension Program, extends the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative to 2031, and raises the 1890 land-grant agricultural research percentage from 30 percent to 40 percent.
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The Senate Agriculture Committee listed the Agricultural Act of 2026 as 'Not Agreed to by Roll Call Vote: 10-11.'
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CBO said H.R. 7567 would authorize programs for 'agricultural research' and Title VII focused on research and extension activities.
Assessments
Cline materially worked toward the promise during the same federal House term: he voted for House passage of H.R. 7567, a Farm Bill vehicle that official materials indicate included agricultural research and extension provisions, and he separately cited Agriculture Subcommittee appropriations work supporting agricultural research. However, the Farm Bill was not enacted, and the Senate Agriculture Committee markup failed, so the promised Farm Bill outcome was not fully delivered. This merits partial credit with an effort badge rather than full delivery.
Cline took concrete same-term action toward the promise: he engaged farm stakeholders, supported agriculture appropriations tied to research, and voted for House passage of H.R. 7567, a Farm Bill vehicle containing agricultural research provisions such as specialty-crop automation research, organic agriculture research reauthorization, and stronger 1890 land-grant research support. However, House passage alone did not enact a new Farm Bill, and the promised outcome was not fully secured in law, so this is partial fulfillment rather than delivered.
Cline took concrete same-term actions related to the promise, including farm-bill stakeholder outreach, engagement with agricultural research institutions, and appropriations work that he says funded USDA programs supporting agricultural research. However, the core promised vehicle was the Farm Bill, and the evidence indicates Congress had not enacted a new farm bill by the latest cited CRS update, relying instead on extensions. Because there was meaningful follow-through but not full delivery through a strengthened Farm Bill, the promise is best rated partial.