Congressman James Comer, of Kentucky, is part of a bipartisan coalition pushing to protect the hemp industry from what he calls harmful language added to federal spending bills.
Comer and 27 lawmakers recently sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging the removal of provisions in the FY26 Agriculture-FDA Appropriations Act that would redefine legal hemp and threaten the future of hemp farming in the U.S.
The group argues the proposed changes could devastate an industry that supports 320,000 jobs, generates $28.4 billion in regulated market activity, and contributes $1.5 billion in state tax revenue. Lawmakers also raised concerns that the language was added without public hearings or consideration by relevant committees.
Instead, the letter outlines a bipartisan framework for regulating hemp responsibly. That plan includes restricting sales to adults 21 and older, requiring standardized labeling and packaging, and mandating third-party lab testing to ensure product safety.
Comer has been a leading supporter of hemp since his time as Kentucky’s Agriculture Commissioner and played a key role in passing the 2018 Farm Bill, which expanded hemp production nationwide. He says he will continue working with colleagues to protect farmers and small businesses from unnecessary setbacks.
