Kentucky 1st District Congressman James Comer, R-Tompkinsville, is leading a bipartisan effort opposing the inclusion of anti-hemp language in two bills comprising the FY26 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Comer and 27 of his fellow lawmakers warn that adopting this harmful language—including a sweeping redefinition of legal hemp—would jeopardize the long-term future of the U.S. hemp industry, and they urge House leadership to stand up for American hemp farmers by removing the language from the FY26 Ag-FDA Appropriations bill and any final FY26 appropriations package.
“We write to express our strong opposition to Section 759 of H.R. 4121 and Section 782 of S. 2256 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (FY26 Agriculture-FDA Appropriations Bill),” the letter stated. Under the 2018 Farm Bill language, the hemp industry supports 320,000 American jobs, generates $28.4 billion in regulated market activity, and produces some $1.5 billion in state tax revenue.”
They continued, “If the language contained in the FY26 Agriculture-FDA Appropriations Bill were to become law, it would deal a fatal blow to American farmers supplying the regulated hemp industry and small businesses, and jeopardize tens of billions of dollars in economic activity around the country. Additionally, there are serious procedural concerns with how the language ended up in these bills. This language has not been considered in a markup or hearing by any relevant authorizing committee and there was no public forum for members to express concerns with this language and preferred alternative legislation more appropriate for the relevant authorizing committees.”
Instead of pursuing this damaging appropriations language, the lawmakers detail a bipartisan path forward for Congress and outline a responsible and workable legislative regulatory framework. The American hemp industry stands united behind a framework that restricts hemp product sales to adults 21 and older, standardizes packaging and labeling to protect consumers and eliminate “look-alike” products, and mandates independent third-party lab testing for consumable hemp products.
Members of Kentucky’s Congressional delegation who also signed the letter include Reps. Andy Barr, R-Lexington; Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville; and Thomas Massie, R-Vanceburg.
