Good afternoon,
The goal of this email is to provide a regular source of useful information to staff and faculty of the ÎçÒ¹Ó°Ôº System regarding the federal government and higher education. We have put together a list of news articles that will keep you informed of the actions taken by the executive, legislative, and judicial branch of government. These articles are meant to be informative and are not a reflection of the views or stance of the system regarding these issues.
If you would like more information regarding any of the stories we share, or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact Dusty Schnieders schniedersd@umsystem.edu and/or Emily Lucas el59bz@umsystem.edu.
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Capitol Hill News
Poilitico – April 30, 2026
The House passed its farm bill Thursday by a vote of 224-200 after months of uncertainty about whether Republican leaders would be able to secure enough support to pass the legislation. The House’s successful vote marks the farthest a farm bill has made it in Congress since the most recent reauthorization was signed into law in 2018. The legislation still faces long odds against becoming law due to policy disagreements in the Senate.
House Appropriations Committee – April 30, 2026
House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee met to consider its Fiscal Year 2027 bill. The measure was approved by the Subcommittee.
A summary of the bill is available .
Bill text is available .
A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available .
House Appropriations Committee – April 29, 2026
House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 35 to 25 and provides a total discretionary allocation of $26.27 billion, which is $380 million (1.4%) below the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level.
Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available .
Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available .
A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available .
Delegation News
Congressman Mark Alford – April 29, 2026
As part of the FY27 Agriculture appropriations bill, Mark Alford secured more than $4.25 million in direct investments for Missouri’s Fourth District, including funding for local public safety and infrastructure projects such as a Cass County digital forensics lab expansion, a new fire and police facility in El Dorado Springs, water and wastewater system upgrades in Lexington and Higginsville, and a NextGen 911 system upgrade in Morgan County. He also delivered key policy and program funding priorities, including funding for livestock genetic engineering and health research and continued support for the Center for Agroforestry at the ÎçÒ¹Ó°Ôº, along with increased funding for the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan, the National Agriculture Imagery Program, and provisions to strengthen oversight of foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.
Congressional Calendar
House Appropriations Committee Releases FY27 Markup Schedule
On Monday, the House Committee on Appropriations Chair Tom Cole released the markup schedule for FY2027 appropriations bills.
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- at 11am on Wednesday, May 13
 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
- at 9am on Friday, May 15
- at 10am on Wednesday, May 20
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
- at 8am on Thursday, May 21
- at 10am on Wednesday, June 3
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Bill
- at 8am on Friday, June 5
- at 11am on Tuesday, June 9
Defense
- Subcommittee Markup at 9am on Thursday, June 11 (Classified)
- at 11am on Wednesday, June 24