Congress Returns from Recess
From the Western Ag Network, I’m Bob Larson. Congress returns from its August with much unfinished business and huge impacts for agriculture.
And lawmakers again face the job of keeping the lights on, with government funding again at risk.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley …
GRASSLEY … “If appropriations bills are not signed into law by September 30th, lawmakers and the president must agree on a temporary spending resolution. If that fails, the unfunded parts of government shut down.”
Another shutdown could halt new farm loans, conservation payments, research, and rural development programs, and annual defense bills with as much as 12 billion in new farm aid.
Senate Democrats like Chuck Schumer object over the Iran war …
SCHUMER … “The Republicans should not expect, Trump should not expect business as usual, when they’re engaged in an aimless war that is raising the cost for American people, losing lives, tearing apart our alliances. No business as usual.”
And then there’s the farm bill. Democrats are demanding two years for states to fix SNAP overpayments, but Senate Ag Chair John Boozman says he’s done negotiating ...
BOOZMAN … “I want to be clear, a two-year delay does not have the support of a majority in Congress or of the White House. The offer before you is the best, and it’s the final offer.”
The outdated 2018 farm bill has already been extended three times.
