Rep. Troy E. Nehls Secures $1.5 Million to Support Texas Rice Producers

June 8, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. —Last week, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) voted “YES” to pass H.R. 8646, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2027 , which includes $1.5 million for Texas A&M AgriLife Research’s Protecting Texas Rice from Devastating Rice Delphacid and Disease Pests by Improving Insect and Weed Management Strategies project. Rice delphacid and the hoja blanca virus that it spreads pose a significant threat to Texas rice production and Texas’s multi-million-dollar rice industry. Texas A&M AgriLife Research’s rice delphacid project would help producers understand how the pest and disease spread, how they damage crops, and help develop practical, affordable management tools to combat this threat. “I’m proud to announce that I voted to secure $1.5 million in federal funds to support research that will help Texas rice producers combat the threat posed by rice delphacid and the virus it spreads,” said Congressman Nehls . “Texas’s 22nd Congressional District is home to some of the top-producing rice counties in the State of Texas. It’s critical that we do everything in our power to mitigate this threat and protect the rice industry.” Issues : Congress