U.S. Representative Austin Scott said on May 1 that House passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act is “a major win” for growers, ranchers, and rural communities. The House passed the measure by a vote of 224 to 200, and the bill now advances to the Senate, according to Scott’s official congressional website.
“Through House Republicans’ work on H.R. 1, we achieved the first meaningful investment in the farm safety net since 2002, we brought integrity back to our nutrition programs, and we provided relief to our farming families through tax cuts,” Scott said. He said the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 builds on those efforts by modernizing trade and global food assistance, improving access to farm credit, and investing in rural needs.
Georgia agriculture generates a farm gate value of more than $18 billion and contributes more than $100 billion in total economic output to the state economy. The sector supports more than 370,000 jobs across food and fiber production and related industries, according to the University of Georgia.
The food and agriculture industry supports more than 24 million jobs across the United States, accounting for about 15% of total employment. The agriculture supply chain has a direct and indirect economic impact totaling $9.5 trillion, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Scott is serving his eighth term as representative for Georgia’s 8th Congressional District. He serves as vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, according to his official biography.
