The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee failed to advance its 2026 Farm Bill, with the measure falling 10-11 after lawmakers spent hours debating proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and state cost-sharing requirements.
Before the bill stalled, the committee approved an amendment supporting mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef and a provision to allow year-round E15 sales permanently.
The committee’s action came as Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) remained absent from the Senate because of health issues. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) also missed the vote, leaving Republicans short of the votes needed to move the bill out of committee.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) vowed to bring the legislation back for another vote when lawmakers return in September.
“We’re going to come back in that first week and have another vote on the same bill again,” Boozman told reporters, according to Politico.
SNAP debate dominates hearing
While the hearing included broad agriculture priorities, the committee’s longest and most contentious debate centered on proposed changes to SNAP.
Under current law, SNAP benefits are fully funded by the federal government, while administrative costs are split roughly evenly between the federal government and the states, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Boozman’s proposal would delay state cost-sharing for SNAP benefits until Oct. 1, 2028, with each state’s share based on its 2026 payment error rate. States with error rates of 13.33% or higher in both 2025 and 2026 would receive an additional one-year delay. Beginning in 2031, states with error rates of at least 10% would pay 20% of benefit costs instead of 15%, according to CRS.
Boozman said Republicans had already made significant concessions in hopes of reaching a bipartisan agreement.
“This legislation represents the best and final offer I can make to address the concerns of the minority that they have raised on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” he told the committee.
Democrats argued the proposal still unfairly treated states based on their payment error rates and said additional time was needed before shifting any benefit costs to states. Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) acknowledged the bill contained provisions she strongly supports but said the one-year delay failed to resolve the underlying problem.
“Our members are simply asking for the two-year delay so all states will be on the same footing in working to reduce their error rates,” Klobuchar said. “A state with an error rate twice that of Minnesota will pay nothing in the second year, whereas states that have reduced their error rates will still be disadvantaged over high-error-rate states.”
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) delivered an emotional appeal, urging the committee not to lose sight of the people who depend on SNAP while debating payment formulas and error rates. Booker argued the program helps millions of working families, children and seniors put food on the table and warned lawmakers against making changes that could shift financial burdens to states and ultimately affect vulnerable Americans.
MCOOL amendment advances
The committee ratified an amendment related to MCOOL for beef, another issue that has long divided livestock groups. The amendment, led by Sen. John Thune (R-SD), passed 17-6.
Supporters argued consumers deserve greater transparency about where their food originates and said mandatory labeling would help U.S. cattle producers distinguish domestic products from imported beef.
Opponents maintained that reinstating mandatory labeling could expose the U.S. to renewed trade disputes similar to those that resulted in World Trade Organization retaliation before Congress repealed the previous labeling requirements in 2015.
The amendment does not immediately reinstate MCOOL but directs the U.S. Trade Representative to pursue restoring the labeling requirement.
The proposal has long been championed by the United States Cattlemen’s Association and the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has opposed the measure, arguing mandatory labeling risks reopening costly trade disputes with Canada and Mexico.
Another provision drawing broad bipartisan support would permanently authorize year-round E15 sales. Klobuchar praised its inclusion, saying the bill contains “good things” for farmers and ranchers, including year-round E15, an issue she has long championed.
The committee also considered amendments proposed by Democratic members covering rural hospitals, wildfire mitigation, organic agriculture, renewable energy and pesticide liability. These measures failed along party lines. Despite the wide-ranging debate, disagreements over SNAP funding and payment error rates ultimately prevented the broader farm bill from advancing.
Reactions
Following the vote, Boozman said Democrats had rejected a negotiated compromise.
“This debate was about the farm bill, not protecting the mismanagement of billions of dollars in food aid,” he said. “America’s farmers and ranchers have pleaded for more farm in the farm bill. Republicans provided it and Democrats rejected it.”
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15) echoed those frustrations.
“It is clear that Senate Democrats are not in search of real solutions for farm country,” Thompson said. “Even the inclusion of year-round E15, dozens of Democrat amendments, and a delay in the SNAP benefit cost share could not entice Senate Democrats to support producers and vote for the farm bill.”
According to Politico, Boozman acknowledged the difficult legislative path ahead, saying it would take “a miracle” for the farm bill to clear committee, pass the Senate and be signed into law before the midterm elections. Even so, he added, “We can do it with cooperation.” — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
