April 20, 2026
Mr. Durbin (for himself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To prioritize funding for an expanded and sustained national investment in agriculture research.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the America Grows Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Funding
(a) In general
There is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to each funding recipient described in subsection (b) for the programs, projects, and activities of such funding recipient, the following amounts:
(1)
For fiscal year 2027, the amount equal to 105 percent of the amount of new budget authority made available in appropriation Acts for that funding recipient for fiscal year 2026, increased by the percentage increase (if any), during fiscal year 2026, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(2)
For each of fiscal years 2028 through 2036, the amount equal to 105 percent of the amount appropriated to that funding recipient under this subsection for the previous fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), during such previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(3)
For fiscal year 2037, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), during such previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(b) Funding recipients described
The funding recipients described in this subsection are—
(1)
the Agricultural Research Service;
(2)
the Economic Research Service;
(3)
the National Agricultural Statistics Service; and
(4)
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
(c) Availability
Each amount appropriated under subsection (a) shall remain available for obligation through the last day of the fiscal year for which such amount is appropriated.
Sec. 3. Exemption from sequestration
(a) In general
Section 255(g)(1)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 905(g)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting after Advances to the Unemployment Trust Fund and Other Funds (16–0327–0–1–600).
the following:
- Appropriations made available under section 2(a) of the America Grows Act of 2026.
(b) Applicability
The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any sequestration order issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.) on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 4. Budgetary effects
(a) Statutory PAYGO scorecards
The budgetary effects of this Act shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(d)).
(b) Senate PAYGO scorecards
The budgetary effects of this Act shall not be entered on any PAYGO scorecard maintained for purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress).