America Grows Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
- Committees
- Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Apr 20, 2026
Bottom line
The America Grows Act of 2026 aims to ensure stable, growing, and protected long-term funding for critical federal agricultural research, bypassing traditional budget constraints.
What it actually does
This bill establishes a new mandatory funding stream for four key agricultural research agencies: the Agricultural Research Service, Economic Research Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service, and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Starting in fiscal year 2027, these agencies will receive annual appropriations equal to 105% of the previous year's funding, adjusted for inflation. The bill also explicitly exempts these appropriations from sequestration and Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) rules.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that this bill provides the essential, predictable, and growing investment needed for agricultural research to address pressing challenges such as food security, climate change, and global competitiveness. They contend that shielding these funds from annual budget battles and sequestration ensures continuity for long-term scientific endeavors and fosters innovation vital for the nation's agricultural future.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that establishing new mandatory spending with a guaranteed growth rate, and exempting it from PAYGO and sequestration, undermines congressional control over the federal budget and fiscal discipline. They could contend that it contributes to the national debt by allowing new spending without offsets and shifts the burden of potential future budget cuts to other, unprotected programs.
The bill is very short and its core provisions are clearly stated, allowing for a quick and thorough understanding of its primary effects.
Section 2
Mandatory Appropriations for Agricultural Research Agencies
This section mandates annual appropriations for the Agricultural Research Service, Economic Research Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service, and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For fiscal year 2027, each agency receives 105% of its fiscal year 2026 budget authority, plus an adjustment for inflation. For fiscal years 2028 through 2036, funding increases by 105% of the previous year's amount, plus inflation. From fiscal year 2037 onwards, funding is the previous year's amount plus inflation. These funds are available for obligation through the end of the fiscal year for which they are appropriated.
Supporters argue
Proponents argue that this provision ensures a stable and growing financial foundation for critical agricultural science, fostering innovation, competitiveness, and resilience in the face of evolving food and environmental challenges. They believe it allows for long-term planning and investment in research that benefits the entire nation.
Critics contend
Opponents might contend that locking in mandatory spending with a fixed growth rate reduces congressional flexibility to prioritize funding based on changing national needs and could lead to inefficient allocation without annual oversight. They may also raise concerns about the long-term fiscal implications of such an open-ended commitment.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the desire for stable, long-term funding for agricultural research against the principle of annual congressional control over appropriations and the flexibility to adjust spending priorities.
Section 3
Exemption from Sequestration
This section amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exempt the appropriations made under the America Grows Act of 2026 from future sequestration orders. This means that if automatic, across-the-board spending cuts are triggered due to federal budget deficits, the funding for these agricultural research agencies would be protected and would not be reduced.
Section 4
Exemption from PAYGO Rules
This section explicitly exempts the budgetary effects of the America Grows Act of 2026 from both Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) scorecards and Senate PAYGO scorecards. This means that the new mandatory spending created by this bill would not require offsetting spending cuts or revenue increases under current PAYGO rules, effectively allowing the new spending to increase the federal deficit without triggering statutory penalties or procedural hurdles in the Senate.
Exempts the budgetary effects of this Act from Statutory PAYGO and Senate PAYGO scorecards.
Section 4
Why it matters:This is a standard legislative mechanism used when Congress intends to create new spending or tax changes that would otherwise trigger budget enforcement rules. It's technically phrased to achieve a specific fiscal outcome rather than being intentionally obscured for nefarious reasons.
Case for: Supporters would argue that agricultural research is a critical, long-term investment that should not be constrained by immediate budget offsets. They believe the societal and economic benefits justify allowing this spending to proceed without triggering PAYGO penalties, viewing it as an investment in future prosperity.
Case against: Critics would argue that this exemption undermines fiscal discipline and transparency, allowing for significant new mandatory spending without requiring it to be paid for. They contend that it contributes to the national debt and sets a concerning precedent for circumventing established budget rules, shifting the fiscal burden to future generations.
Estimated impact: This provision enables a significant, annually increasing, and inflation-adjusted mandatory spending stream for agricultural research to proceed without triggering statutory budget enforcement mechanisms. The cumulative fiscal impact on the federal budget will be substantial over the long term, potentially adding billions to the deficit over decades.