(NAFB) — Much of Washington, D.C., is consumed with questions about Ukraine and the impeachment inquiry. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell publicly scolded Democrats’ handling of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. Politico says McConnell wants House Democrats to pass the North American trade agreement, noting that “the time for excuses is over.” Speaking on the Senate floor, McConnell said Democrats …
Senate to Vote on Disaster Relief Next Week
Disaster aid is before the U.S. Senate as lawmakers are working to break the political logjam over urgently-needed assistance for farmers hurt by storm damage. This includes those here in the Southeast affected by Hurricane Michael last October. While the House did pass a disaster bill last week, congressional leaders and the White House have been discussing a bipartisan bill that …
McConnell: No NAFTA 2.0 Vote This Year
As expected, the U.S. Senate will not consider the updated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), in 2018. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Bloomberg News a vote on the updated agreement would not happen until after the New Year, saying “My trade advisers say you can’t possibly do it under the various steps …
Urgency for Farm Bill Passage
‘Urgency, Predictability and Certainty’—the words heard over and over again at the first formal and maybe only public House-Senate farm bill negotiating session, as future talks head into private sessions. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said it perhaps more poignantly than even the two Ag chairs and ranking members. Urgency for Farm Bill Passage-1 Current law expires at the end …
Senate Names Farm Bill Conference Committee Members
The Senate Wednesday named members to the farm bill conference committee following action a day earlier to move forward with the conference process. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell named himself to the committee, along with Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, and fellow Republicans John Boozman of Arkansas, John Hoeven of North Dakota and Joni Ernst of Iowa. Meanwhile, Minority Leader Chuck …
Farm Bill in Senate’s Court
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are expected to appoint their members of the farm bill conference committee this week. Politico says the upper chamber will need to clear some procedural hurdles on the floor before that can officially happen. During the last farm bill debate, 12 senators, including seven from the majority and five from …
Senate Farm Bill Setting Up for Debate
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set the process in motion for considering the farm bill on the Senate floor. On Monday evening, Politico says the Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on the motion to proceed to the farm bill legislation, which will likely pave the way for debate. The Congressional Budget Office posted its breakdown of the …
Senate Ag Plans Farm Bill Markup
The Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday announced it will consider the Senate version of the farm bill next week. Markup of the bill is planned for Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. The bipartisan bill, according to committee leaders, will “provide much-needed certainty” for farmers and ranchers. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts and Ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow announced the business meeting …
McConnell Introduces Hemp legislation
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this week announced legislation he intends to introduce in the Senate to support hemp farmers. The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 will legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity and remove it from the list of controlled substances. McConnell announced the legislation in his home state earlier this week, which implemented a hemp pilot program that …
Republicans Deliver Letter to Congressional Leadership Calling on Section 199A Changes
A group of Republican lawmakers Wednesday sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan calling for changes to Section 199A in the tax code. The group of more than 80 lawmakers says the changes will restore the competitive balance in the agricultural marketplace. Led by Iowa Representative David Young, the group says the changes …