Budget Battle
From the Ag Information Network, I'm Bob Larson. With elections looming, the Congressional calendar is tight. Right now, Congress is locked in a funding battle.
Emily Buckman, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the deadline is quickly approaching …
BUCKMAN … “September 30 marks the end of fiscal year 2024. This means Congress has roughly two weeks to pass government funding legislation to avoid a government shutdown. To date, the House has passed a handful of individual funding bills, and the Senate has not passed any.”
Buckman says a continuing resolution is likely necessary to avoid a shutdown, but the two chambers have not agreed on a timeline …
BUCKMAN … “The House of Representatives is expected to consider legislation that would fund the government through March 2025. Now on the other side, the Senate would like to see shorter continuing resolution that would punt the discussion into December. It is an election year, and the congressional calendar is very limited.”
Buckman says government funding is the first step in working on a growing list of must-pass legislation, but time is limited …
BUCKMAN … “Which is why it’s imperative that Congress funds the federal government beyond September 30, so that we avoid a government shutdown and work on other efforts, including passage of a new farm bill. Updating the farm safety net to help farmers manage risk is necessary for America’s food supply.”
That the American Farm Bureau’s Emily Buckman.
