House

The House and Senate this week came together in passage of spending bills for fiscal year 2020.  Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican, said, "bipartisan cooperation has made this possible.”   The spending package for agriculture includes $23.5 billion in di...

While this week’s White House budget deal with Congressional leaders makes it easier to pass USDA and other spending bills in September, it’s not a guarantee.  The two-year budget debt ceiling deal must still be sold to lawmakers of both parties and there are both Republicans and Democrats that are not happy.  There's a 'no'...

The bipartisan agreement announced Tuesday preventing another government shutdown is sweet music to the ears of the Ag industry.  The agreement funds the USDA and other federal agencies without a final budget through the current fiscal year, which began last October.   ...

The biggest difference between the House and Senate versions of the farm bill was front and center on Twitter.  President Trump jumped into the debate via Twitter, in an effort to tip the scales toward House Republicans ahead of conference negotiations.   ...

House Republican leaders appear to be going back on a promise to hold a vote ahead of the August recess on a conservative immigration bill that includes a new guest-worker program for farmers.  Back in June, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy promised several members there would be a vote.   ...

The Senate is expected to vote this week to go to conference with the House to come up with a single Farm Bill, and the hope is lawmakers can approve the legislation before the current Farm Bill expires in late September.  Last week the House voted to move to conferences, including naming conferees.  Se...

The U.S. House plans to vote later this week on a motion to enter negotiations with the Senate on the farm bill, setting the stage for a likely September conference.  The House plans to vote by this Thursday on a procedural motion to go to conference with the Senate on House Resolution 2.  Bu...

The Senate Agriculture Committee will consider its version of the Farm Bill next Wednesday.  Andrew Walmsley, American Farm Bureau Federation congressional relations director, says this is an encouraging step.   “All good signs as the ranking member, and Chairman Roberts met afternoon to walk through the bill.  I believe the...

It’s a question on the minds of many in the ag industry.  Will Congress pass a Farm Bill on time?  Ed Elfmann, senior Vice President  of ag and rural banking with the American Bankers Assocation, says partially.   “In 2018, there will be a Farm Bill out of the House.  Timing is unsure at this poin...

Last week, the Senate passed legislation designed to address the potential threat of agro-terrorism and keep the American food supply safe.  Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts co-sponsored the legislation in the Senate and says an attack on the nation’s food supply would cause irreparable damage.   “...