Congress

Torres Small Addresses Rural Broadband Complaints
Torres Small Addresses Rural Broadband Complaints
Torres Small Addresses Rural Broadband Complaints
USDA’s Rural Development undersecretary faced numerous complaints from rural U.S. Senators about complicated grant applications, office staffing, and broadband grant duplication at a recent Farm Bill hearing.  Xochitl Torres Small defended her agency’s handling of its many functions, calling most criticisms the result of having to balance costs and fairness.  But she did agree t...
Milk Producers Ask for Support of Domestic Formula Production
Milk Producers Ask for Support of Domestic Formula Production
Milk Producers Ask for Support of Domestic Formula Production
The National Milk Producers Federation sent a letter to lawmakers, including Oregon's Ron Wyden, asking for support of domestic infant formula production as the shortfalls that emptied store shelves of formula have eased.  NMPF said given the improving situation, tariff waivers that could discourage the production of a safe, secure domestic infant formula supply should be allowed to expire at the
Kind: Lawmakers Need To Address Ag Labor
Kind: Lawmakers Need To Address Ag Labor
Kind: Lawmakers Need To Address Ag Labor
As the lame duck session of Congress works through the final weeks of 2022, many farm and agriculture groups are pressing lawmakers to finish immigration reform through the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  The legislation, spearheaded by Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse and others, has already cleared the House, but has not been voted on in the Senate.  Representativ...
AFBF Sets Farm Bill Priorities
AFBF Sets Farm Bill Priorities
AFBF Sets Farm Bill Priorities
The American Farm Bureau Federation is out with its priorities in the 2023 Farm Bill.  AFBF President Zippy Duvall said tops of the list maintaining program funding.   “The farm bill funding is an investment in some of the most fundamental elements of a strong country, one being a strong food supply.   The Farm Bill has...
Newhouse Remains Optimistic That FWMA Will Pass
Newhouse Remains Optimistic That FWMA Will Pass
Newhouse Remains Optimistic That FWMA Will Pass
Time may be running short, but Dan Newhouse remains optimistic that the Senate will address ag labor needs via his Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  The legislation which already cleared the House, has stalled in the Senate.  And while the window for the 117th Congress is starting to close, the Chair of the Western Caucus believes lawmakers can act in the coming months.    “We have ...
TFI urges Congress Act to Avoid a Freight Rail Shutdown
TFI urges Congress Act to Avoid a Freight Rail Shutdown
TFI urges Congress Act to Avoid a Freight Rail Shutdown
Over the weekend, the Fertilizer Institute again urged Congress to take action to avoid a freight rail shutdown this Friday, September 16th.  TFI sent a letter to Congressional leaders pushing for intervention to prevent a stoppage from occurring.  TFI Pre...
Olsen: Report From Murray Inslee Offers Very Little Direction
Olsen: Report From Murray Inslee Offers Very Little Direction
Olsen: Report From Murray Inslee Offers Very Little Direction
A recent report issued by Washington Governor Jay Inslee and senator Patty Murray attempted to answer questions about the economic impact to SE Washington and beyond if the Snake River dams were removed.  However, according to Darryll Olsen with the Columbia Snake River Irrigators Association, the report offered very few answers and did not clear up confusion between the two sides of the argument.
Schrier To Host Farm Bill Listening Session Friday
Schrier To Host Farm Bill Listening Session Friday
Schrier To Host Farm Bill Listening Session Friday
The 2023 Farm Bill will come to Washington Friday.  Congresswoman Kim Schrier will host one of the Agriculture Committee’s listening sessions on Friday, July 22, 2022.  This series of listening sessions entitled “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Perspectives from the Field,” allows House Agriculture Committee Members to gather input from producers and consumers on the ground to help shape the upcom

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