Congressman Jefferson Shreve announced on May 7 that provisions from his bipartisan Rural Animal Shelter Investment Act have been included in the 2026 Farm Bill, which recently advanced through the House of Representatives. The legislation aims to help rural animal shelters access existing federal funding for building, expanding, or improving their facilities.
The inclusion of these provisions is significant for rural communities where animal shelters play a vital role in rescuing and caring for animals, supporting public health, and addressing gaps in veterinary services. Many of these shelters operate with limited budgets and have not often accessed support available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program.
According to the announcement, over the past decade rural shelters have received funding from this program only a handful of times. The Rural Animal Shelter Investment Act clarifies that animal shelters qualify as “Essential Community Facilities” under this USDA program, making it easier for local organizations to apply for needed resources.
“Rural animal shelters do important work, often with limited resources,” said Rep. Shreve. “This is a simple fix. It makes clear that shelters are eligible for existing federal support so they can build, expand, and improve the facilities they rely on every day.”
Congressman Shomari C. Figures co-led the legislation alongside Shreve. “Animal shelters in rural communities house and care for animals in critical need,” said Rep. Figures. “This bipartisan bill will help animal shelters apply for more federal funding to support their work.” The American Kennel Club has endorsed the legislation.
