Washington, D.C. (Sept. 16, 2026) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on the Senate Agriculture Committee’s successful effort to pass the Agricultural Act of 2026 during today’s committee markup.
“On behalf of ICBA and the nearly 45,000 community bank locations we represent, ICBA is pleased to see the farm bill advance and appreciates the committee’s thoughtful deliberations and successful passage today. Senators and staff have put tremendous effort into this process, and full passage is achievable. A well-designed farm bill can be a positive step for the agricultural sector and our nation’s community banks, which provide approximately 80% of all loans extended by banks to the nation’s farmers and ranchers.
“We appreciate the bill’s enhancements of USDA guaranteed farm loan programs, including higher loan limits and prompt approval of guaranteed loan applications and other modifications. These changes, combined with other farm safety net updates, will better enable producers to repay their farm loans in this difficult agricultural environment.
“However, further modifications are needed to ensure the bill’s Farm Credit System expansions have guardrails and transparency to ensure this expansion-minded government-sponsored enterprise adheres to its original mission—serving agriculture—rather than pursuing broad nonfarm financing activities far afield of its purpose. To maximize credit availability, Congress needs to ensure the rural credit market is not tilted away from private-sector, tax-paying community banks to a largely tax-exempt GSE operating with unchecked mission creep.”
About ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.
As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.