Chairman Roberts: “The CR will also allow for timely implementation of much-needed assistance”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today applauded a bipartisan deal reached on the House continuing resolution (CR) that includes a full replenishment of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
On Monday, Roberts admonished the House Democrats’ CR, which previously denied funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) implementation of Farm Bill and COVID-19 relief programs, including the CCC. Click here to read more.
“Democrats have heard our call, and the calls from farm country, to not ignore rural America when funding the government,” said Roberts. “This bipartisan deal is a step in the right direction to allow agriculture producers across America to continue feeding the country and the world, especially at a time when markets are unpredictable and prices are low.”
“Not only will this deal avert a government shutdown, the CR will also allow for timely implementation of much-needed assistance for farmers, ranchers, and growers.”
Click here to read the bill text. Click here to read the bill summary.
Roberts last week spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of pandemic relief programs to rural America. Click here to watch and read his remarks.
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on Agreement to Help Families and Farmers in the Continuing Resolution
Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the agreement on the continuing resolution.
This agreement includes important nutrition provisions, including an expansion of Pandemic EBT for families for the next year and an expansion of this critical assistance to children in childcare. It also protects important flexibilities that allow states and schools to provide nutrition assistance to pregnant women, children and families in need.
The agreement will also improve accountability in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation by banning agriculture funding from being used to bail out oil companies.
“I’ve always said that we need to help both our farmers and our families. This agreement will take a critical step to address the hunger crisis in our country and ensure millions of children can get the healthy food they need to learn and thrive, not just for a few months, but for the coming year.
“Additionally, we secured greater accountability for farmers and taxpayers by stopping the Trump Administration’s misguided plan to give hundreds of millions of dollars of agriculture funds to oil companies. I remain concerned about persistent unfairness in ad hoc USDA payments and I will continue to provide strong oversight to ensure that every dollar is distributed to the farmers who need it the most during these challenging times.”
Last modified: 09/24/2020
