by Will Jordan The Animal Drug User Fee Act, better known as ADUFA, received reauthorization with the recent stop-gap funding bill passed by Congress. Signed into law in 2003, reauthorization has been required every five years since then. ADUFA amends the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, allowing the FDA to collect fees dedicated to the animal drug review process. Through …
Farm Bill: Where are We Now?
by Will Jordan Missing their September 30 deadline for passage of a Farm Bill, Congress still has work to do. A stop-gap funding bill extended government funding for another 45 days, yet turmoil in the House of Representatives leaves concern among agricultural groups. 81.1% of $1.5 Trillion in funding for the Farm Bill goes towards funding SNAP programs leaving a …
“Uncharted Waters”: What McCarthy Ouster Means for Agriculture
by Will Jordan The U.S. Congress voted late afternoon, Tuesday, October 3rd to vacate the Office of the Speaker. The vote received 216 yay and 210 nay votes, ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from his leadership role as Speaker of the House. This vote followed the stop-gap funding bill he pushed through by McCarthy, to prevent a government shutdown, the …
Disaster Aid Uncertain in Congress
Disaster aid for states hit by flooding is more uncertain as Congress nears recess and ag lawmakers seem at odds over what producers need. Politico reports negotiations to pass a disaster relief package have collapsed just as another storm hits the Midwest and Great Plains, prompting blizzard warnings from Colorado to Minnesota. Midwest Senators are pushing for a disaster bill …
New Congress Convenes as Shutdown Delays Farm Payments
New leaders convene in Congress with the need to find an end to the government shutdown. The Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies are reaching a “breaking point,” according to Politico, as many agencies are running out of carryover funding. USDA has closed Farm Service Agency offices across the nation due to the shutdown. Producers who have certified 2018 …
Congress Returns with Hopes of Farm Bill Passage
Lawmakers return to Washington, D.C., this week with a need to still find a path forward on the farm bill. However, multiple measures, including 2019 appropriation bills, must also be passed in the lame-duck session. The House is scheduled to leave on Dec. 13, while the Senate is scheduled to adjourn on Dec. 14. But, Congress could stay in session …
On-time Farm Bill Hopes Dim
Hopes of an on-time farm bill are diminishing as lawmakers now have less than a week to finish a bill, get it passed by both chambers again, and on the President’s desk for signature. The current farm bill expires September 30th, and the conference committee still must agree on changes in the conservation programs of the farm bill and the …
Trade Promotion Authority to Auto-Renew
Trade Promotion Authority will auto-renew at the end of this month due to no congressional action. Originally authorized by Congress during the Obama administration for the advancement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, TPA will auto-renew for another three years. The renewal comes due to the inaction by the House and Senate during a three-month window to pass a resolution of disapproval …
Congress to Soon Take Up New Farm Bill
Congress will be back at work next week, and according to Tyron Spearman, soon after that they will be continuing efforts on a new Farm Bill. Congress to Soon Take Up New Farm Bill
Another Year of Tight Budgets in Washington
2018 will be another year of tight budgets in Washington, especially after the passage of a sweeping tax overhaul bill. That will also likely mean less money to write a new farm bill. The 2014 farm bill was tough enough to write but the 2018 bill could be tougher. And it’s not just automatic budget cuts begun in 2011, but a …