The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm Bill, H.R. 7567, known as the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,” last Thursday according to a May 5 statement. Congressman Cliff Bentz was the only member of Oregon’s federal House delegation to vote in favor of advancing this bill to the Senate.
The bill aims to secure America’s food supply by providing a safety net for farmers through crop insurance and commodity programs while funding nutrition initiatives such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). It also includes measures intended to help farmers remain in business when facing challenges like adverse weather or market disruptions.
Provisions specific to Oregon include strengthening wildfire mitigation and forest health programs, expanding hazardous fuels reduction activities, and improving collaboration with federal agencies on forest management projects through “Good Neighbor Authority.” The legislation increases funding for watershed restoration and postfire recovery across public and private lands. Support is expanded for specialty crops like onions, potatoes, beans (pulses), orchardists, nursery growers, grape producers—who benefit from provisions focused on wine exports—and cherry producers who receive assistance through new emergency frameworks and research funding.
Of the 214 Democrats in the House, only 14 voted for the Farm Bill. Many opposed it due to disagreements over SNAP eligibility verification processes or work requirements. In Oregon specifically, able-bodied adults without children under age fourteen must work or volunteer about ten hours per week to qualify for SNAP benefits. Congressman Bentz has rejected claims that this requirement amounts to a cut in SNAP benefits: “the benefits remain available. Still, the recipients, if able-bodied without a child under 14 must work as a volunteer…again for about 9 hours a week.” He said that approximately eighty percent of those polled support this requirement.
Additional changes include expanded access within SNAP for certain hot foods; administrative adjustments simplifying access for seniors and eligible students; and $200 million authorized to connect local farmers with community food distribution organizations.
Bentz said that high demand persists across agriculture-related industries while many able-bodied adults are not working: “Hopefully this SNAP work requirement will prompt those who have not been working to look for employment.” He added: “As the only Oregon House member to vote for this bill…everything that can be done to help our farmers must be done. This bill will help, and help is truly needed.”
Cliff Bentz is currently serving in Congress representing Oregon’s 2nd district after replacing Greg Walden in 2021 according to his official website. He previously served in both chambers of Oregon’s state legislature since 2008 according to his official website. Bentz was born in Salem in 1952 and resides in Ontario according to his official website. He graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a BA before earning his JD from Lewis & Clark College according to his official website.
