House

The National Grain and Feed Association asked Congress to intervene, if necessary, to prevent any interruptions of rail service that could occur if negotiations fail between carriers and labor groups. Last week, the association sent letters to the leaders of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, Transportation, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee...

The North American Meat Institute says the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis’ recent report distorts the truth about the meat and poultry industry’s efforts to protect workers from COVID. The report says meatpackers worked with the Trump administration to make sure they could stay open during the pandemic. "Th ...

The Senate and the House passed a Continuing Resolution to fund federal agencies through December 3rd. The CR provides $10 billion in much-needed disaster relief for losses incurred by farmers and ranchers in 2020 and 2021. It also extends Livestock Mandatory Reporting through December 3rd ...

During Thursday’s House Natural Resources Committee markup meeting for a roughly $31.7 billion portion of President Biden’s $3.5 trillion budget resolution, eastern Oregon’s Cliff Bentz offered a trio of amendment he said will benefit rural communities across the Beaver state. Bentz sai ...

Legislation introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate would eliminate the estate tax. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act temporarily doubles the estate tax exemption to $11 million per person indexed for inflation through 2025. However, without congressional action, the estate tax exemption will revert to $5 ...

It’s been over three decades the last time Ag labor laws saw major changes in the U.S. Many had hoped that streak would come to an end after the Workforce Modernization Act Cleared the House to wrap up 2019. Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse said when the legislation was sent to the Senate for consideration supporters looked to keep up the momentum the proposal gained in the House. However, .

Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse joined a handful of fellow representatives late last week, calling on House and Senate leadership to provide additional resources for rural hospital during the COVID-19 outbreak. Newhouse pointed out rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to health care access, and these challenges are only made worse by the current public health crisis. The ...

Supporters of a recently launched bipartisan caucus in Idaho hope to address some of the unique challenges to the Gem State.  The Farm, Ranch and Timber Caucus has members from both the House and Senate looking at how to come up with solutions to issues facing Idaho, all while educating a growing population disconnected from rural life.  ...

Idaho’s wine industry won’t have to store extra wine in neighboring states under proposed legislation that headed to the governor’s desk.  This week, the state Senate voted 32-3 to approve the measure the state’s wine industry says would save it tens of thousands of dollars.   Idaho has some 60 w...

Legislation to make it easier for Idaho residents in rural areas to get healthcare using email and other methods is now in the state Senate.  Earlier this week, the House voted to approve the measure that deletes a requirement that two-way audio and visual be used.  ...