Congress Returns to Much Unfinished Business in September

Congress returns to much unfinished business this month with huge impacts for agriculture. Lawmakers will again face the job of keeping the lights on, with government funding again at risk. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley had to say,

Another shutdown could halt new farm loans, conservation payments, research, and rural development programs, while crop reports and economic forecasts could be delayed. And then there’s the farm bill. Democrats are demanding two years for states to fix SNAP overpayments before suffering funding penalties. Senate Ag Chair John Boozman told Democrats he won’t negotiate further on his compromise one-year penalty delay.

It’s the third year without a new farm bill. The outdated 2018 law has been extended three times and may need a fourth by September 30th.