An amendment to protect jobs to keep the USDA Rural Development sufficiently staffed; An amendment to protect staff positions at the USDA Rural Housing Service. This would decrease operational delays and ensure rural communities are getting the support they need;
Janelle Bynum will preserve staffing at USDA Rural Development and the USDA Rural Housing Service.
Occurrences
Evidence
unverified · Source version 93076 · locator unknown
Rep. Bynum said she introduced 13 amendments to the Republicans’ Farm Bill. Among them were “an amendment to protect jobs to keep the USDA Rural Development sufficiently staffed” and “an amendment to protect staff positions at the USDA Rural Housing Service.”
unverified · Source version 70447 · locator unknown
The Rules Committee page lists Bynum amendment 119 as “Requires USDA Rural Development to maintain a staff of 5,000 full-time equivalent employees. Submitted” and amendment 120 as “Requires the USDA Rural Housing Service to maintain a staff of at least 2,000 full-time equivalent employees. Submitted.”
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The budget request states: “First, the 2026 Budget request reduces the staff levels from 4,630 to 3,162 in 2026.” It also says Rural Development “has reduced staff from 4,630 to 3,162” while pursuing workforce reductions and realignment.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The engrossed House text provides $270,000,000 for Rural Development salaries and expenses and transfers $412,254,000 from the Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account to Rural Development salaries and expenses. It does not include Bynum's requested staffing floors of 5,000 FTEs for USDA Rural Development or 2,000 FTEs for the Rural Housing Service.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
For H.R. 8646, the Clerk records the vote question as 'On Motion to Recommit,' status 'Failed,' with 210 yeas and 212 nays. The vote table lists Bynum, Democratic, Oregon, voting Yea.
Assessments
Bynum made a concrete same-term legislative effort by filing amendments to require USDA Rural Development to maintain 5,000 FTEs and the Rural Housing Service to maintain at least 2,000 FTEs, and she supported a related floor motion. However, the cited House-passed appropriations text did not include those staffing floors, the Rules Committee record does not show the amendments adopted, and USDA budget materials indicate Rural Development staffing was being reduced rather than preserved. The promised outcome has not been delivered, but the serious attempt warrants an effort badge.
Bynum made a concrete same-term legislative effort by submitting amendments to require minimum staffing levels at USDA Rural Development and the USDA Rural Housing Service. However, the available record only shows the amendments as submitted, not adopted, enacted, or otherwise implemented. The USDA budget evidence points in the opposite direction, with Rural Development staffing being reduced rather than preserved. Because the promised staffing preservation has not been delivered but she made a serious legislative attempt, this should be scored as never with an effort badge.