Kiggans secures $2 million for Northampton County Schools in House Agriculture Appropriations Bill

Congresswoman Jen Kiggans voted Thursday in favor of the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, legislation that includes $2 million for renovations to Northampton County Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education program in Eastville.

The funding was included as part of Community Project Funding requests secured by Kiggans in the House spending bill, which now advances to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The $2 million allocation for Northampton County Public Schools is intended to support renovations and improvements to Career and Technical Education facilities, helping expand workforce training opportunities for students on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Kiggans said the funding represents an investment in rural communities and workforce development.

“Supporting the communities that feed, protect, and power our nation starts with making smart investments at home,” Kiggans said. “I was proud to vote for this bill that delivers targeted enhancements for our first responders, rural communities, and academic researchers.”

In addition to the Northampton County project, the legislation includes funding for agricultural research at Virginia Tech’s Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Suffolk. Research conducted at the center often benefits agricultural producers throughout Hampton Roads and Virginia’s Eastern Shore, including farmers in Accomack and Northampton counties.

Beyond local projects, the legislation would provide funding for several federal programs that affect Eastern Shore residents, including:

• $101.2 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
• $8 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
• $3.81 billion for USDA Rural Development programs supporting housing, infrastructure, and community development.
• $1.795 billion for agricultural research through the Agricultural Research Service.
• $37.9 billion for child nutrition programs.

The bill also includes provisions aimed at strengthening agricultural security, including increased funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Homeland Security and enhanced monitoring of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land.

Kiggans said the legislation recognizes the connection between agriculture and national security.

“Food security is national security,” she said. “This bill helps ensure that farmers have access to nutritious food, supports our families, and strengthens protections against foreign adversaries seeking to exploit American agricultural assets.”

The House-approved legislation is one of 12 annual appropriations bills needed to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2027. It must now be considered by the Senate before becoming law.