Senate

According to the American Farm Bureau’s Andrew Walmsley, agriculture is better prepared for a second wave of the coronavirus. With COVID-19 numbers spiking in several states as well as European counties, health experts warning of a new COVID wave coming this fall. But ...

Legislation introduced this week would expand access to telehealth options for rural residents. The KEEP Telehealth Options Act would require the federal government to study the actions taken to expand access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic and report on how to improve those services ...

The coronavirus pandemic continues to create challenges for and in some situations, overwhelm the rural community. As lawmakers in Washington D.C. debate what another round of COVID-19 assistance may look like, the National Farmers Union is asking that more than the bottom line be considered ...

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, .

Last week, a group of Senators introduced the Responding to Epidemic Losses and Investing in the Economic Future for Producers Act of 2020. Known as the RELIEF Act, the legislation would provide relief to livestock and poultry producers amidst the coronavirus pandemic ...

Changes recently passed by the House and Senate to the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program offers farmers and ranchers more flexibility. American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Veronica Nigh said this should help farmers utilize the program more easily. “U ...

The White House and Hill Democrats remain at odds on the way forward on another pandemic aid package, despite the growing needs in agriculture and other sectors. While both sides of the aisle says more economic aid is needed, talks are on hold, amid big differences on new proposals and as aides to the president advised waiting, maybe another month, to see the impact of trillions already approved

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 ...

Members of the Ag Community and the House of Representatives will hold a press conference Wednesday, asking the Senate to address the Ag Labor Shortage.  And one of the pieces of legislation that looks to address the Ag Labor Crisis is the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  ...

Legislation that supporters say address Ag labor problems in Washington has cleared the Senate and now moves to the House.  Senate Bill 6261, passed by a 32-16 partisan vote in Olympia.  Supporters claim the legislation would close “loopholes” exempting nonprofit contractors from the Farm Labor Contractor Act.   But many in ...