House Passed Farm Aid
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. The House is moving ahead with a budget framework that pairs billions in new farm assistance with funding for the Iran war, but Senate Republicans want changes.
House Ag Chair GT Thompson says the $12 billion of new farm aid is urgently needed …
THOMPSON … “American producers are currently staring down the barrel of $80 billion in uncovered farm losses since 2023. That’s even with commodity program payments and the Bridge Assistance Program that President Trump initiated last fall.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggests a ‘dead end’ with one exception …
THUNE … “If they give us a budget resolution as a vehicle, we will hold that, subject to obviously being able to move a continuing resolution to fund the government. It’s a possibility that if necessary, we could pull that budget resolution passed by the House and use it to fund government. I hope that’s not necessary.”
But U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told frustrated lawmakers from ag states that the administration has no plans to change course …
GREER … “The specific authorities this administration is using have changed, but the trade strategy has not. We are committed to continuing to use tariffs and to negotiate deals to support the reindustrialization of our economy, protect American workers and increase their wages and shrink our trade deficit.”
This, as Greer prepares permanent Section 301 tariffs on imports from about 60 countries, replacing those struck down by the Supreme Court.
