Congress Will Try Again To Pass Ag Disaster Aid

Congress will try again this week to pass a long-delayed disaster aid package for farmers hit by Midwest floods, as well as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and drought.  The third-try could be ‘the charm,’ as the Senate makes its latest bid.  American Farm Bureau’s RJ Karney said the signs are “very optimistic” after the Senate Majority Leader called for a vote this week on a compromise bill.

“What I anticipate to occur, would be the Senate will be the Senate will offer a substitute amendment to the House-passed bill, and if there were to be a strong bipartisan vote in the Senate, and the White House and the President give a strong indication that he will sign the bill into law, then there’d be enormous pressure on the House to move forward with the Senate bill and the Senate version of the compromise.”

Karney agrees political pressure is tremendous to pass disaster aid before the Memorial Day recess.  The House he pointed out has already passed legislation.

“They passed two-bills, actually, with regards to disaster relief…and there’s enormous pressure on the Senate to find a compromise bill that can pass both chambers of Congress, but then also, that can get to the president’s desk for his signature.”

The latest House-passed bill adds $3 billion for flood and other storm losses of crops, dairy and on-farm stored commodities, Army Corps flood mitigation projects, and block grants to rebuild homes, businesses and public facilities.

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