Congressional negotiators are struggling to reach an agreement to keep the government's lights on after Dec. 20.
Continuing resolution (CR) language for the government's funding package was expected to be announced on Sunday ahead of the impending shutdown deadline.
But economic support for farmers emerged as an apparent last-minute impasse, with lawmakers unable to release the document.
Key stakeholders indicated this week that the next CR, which would keep government funding at current levels, would also include an additional year's extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, pending a long-term plan agreed upon by both sides. This is because they are struggling with this. But MPs were also ramping up talks about the possibility of additional benefits to provide financial support to farmers as part of a broader funding plan.
Sen. John Hoeven (N.D.), the top Republican on the subcommittee that oversees farm funding, said in a statement Saturday that Republican leadership has announced a package of “$12 billion in economic loss relief and $16 billion in weather-related assistance.” He said he supports the idea. He said he expected to be sworn in as part of a stopgap funding deal at the end of the year.
“We have eliminated potentially partisan additions to this proposal, but it still does not have the necessary Democratic support,” he said at the time. “We urge American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural stakeholders to tell their representatives how important it is that the continuing resolution includes both economic and climate agricultural support for American producers. I encourage you.”
Meanwhile, Democrats attacked Republicans over stalled talks.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott (D-Ga.) said On Saturday, Republican leaders rejected a $10 billion proposal, rejecting “necessary economic aid and multi-decade increases in conservation spending.”
“For weeks, Congressional Democrats have offered a path to a farm credit extension that would provide tens of billions of dollars in economic support and investment in the farm credit programs that farmers rely on,” they said.
“Their 11th-hour proposals fall short of what farmers need, important farm bills have been changed, and much-needed aid to deal with recent natural disasters has been stolen. We can and should provide economic support and disaster relief, rather than conflicting them.”
They also stressed the importance that the proposal “does not take away any funding from essential natural disaster assistance that is being paid for and requested.”
This comes as the Biden administration seeks approval from Congress of an additional $100 billion in disaster relief for a number of agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Departments of Agriculture, Housing, Urban Development and Transportation. is emphasized.
Stabenow also told The Hill this week that he had “found the resources” to pay for the additional financial aid, but did not provide further details. but, Politico reported Democrats had hoped to reinvest billions of dollars in climate funds from the party's Anti-Inflation Act.
Congress faces rapidly shrinking room to pass legislation to avert a shutdown. The House's self-imposed 72-hour rule means bills must be released within a few days to give the House time to act on them and give the Senate time to pass them.
But without further economic support for farmers, it could pose a hurdle to any potential stopgap passage in the future.
Congressman Peter Sessions (R-Texas) said in the postThis weekend, he announced he would “vote against any continuing resolution that does not include financial support for farm and ranch families.”
“I am heartbroken to hear the news that the federal funding bill scheduled to be introduced in the House this week does not include funding for farmers and ranchers. It’s the root of the whole thing.”
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) also said he would be “relentless” to get farmers the help they need.
“For years, our nation's farmers and ranchers have been sounding the alarm about the looming financial crisis in rural America.”
Groups are also increasing pressure on Congress.
The U.S. Soybean Association said in a statement Saturday that it “opposes additional spending that does not provide meaningful support to farmers who need support now to survive beyond 2025.”
“While discussions continue on extending the Farm Bill and funding the government, soybean farmers and other agricultural organizations have made it clear that they will not support any policy proposals that do not recognize the economic realities facing farmers. ”
“We've seen the largest revenue decline in history over the last two years,” Sen. John Boozman (R-Arkansas), the top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, told The Hill in making the case for aid earlier this week. .
“Currently, our farmers are unable to break even and are losing money because input costs are so high and commodity prices are so low,” he said, adding that economic support is the key to support. He added that it is possible. Farmers can “get through this year.”
