Rules Committee Hearing H.R.8646, H.R.7726, H.R.7892, H.R. 8872

The House Rules Committee convened on June 3, 2026, to consider four legislative measures related to federal appropriations and fraud prevention in social assistance programs. Key bills discussed included HR 8646, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY27, which proposed a discretionary allocation of $26.27 billion, reflecting a 1.4% decrease from FY26. The bill faced criticism for cutting $200 million from the WIC program and reducing funding for rural development, water, wastewater, and broadband programs. HR 7726, the Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026, and HR 7892, the No Aid for Ghost Students Act, aimed to strengthen oversight and prevent fraud in child care assistance and federal student aid programs, respectively. HR 8872, the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act, sought to improve transparency and accountability in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The committee debated the balance between fiscal responsibility and support for vulnerable populations, with disagreements over program cuts and fraud prevalence. Motions to adopt structured rules for the bills were passed, and several amendments related to fraud enforcement and program funding were considered but not adopted. The meeting emphasized the importance of combating fraud while ensuring assistance reaches intended beneficiaries, with attention to budget constraints and program integrity.