Tuesdays on the Hill

Now that Congress is back in session, everyone’s wondering what's up with the Farm Bill.  Well, things are about to get a little crazy.  Our best educated guess at the end of last week was that the House was going to whip out a short-term Farm Bill extension before they break again for recess.  This would kick the Farm Bill possibly into the next Congress.  Worst of all, it could potentially leave organic programs high and dry like the last extension bill did.  Now, however, we’re hearing rumors that Congress might just let the Farm Bill expire.  Everything remains very much up in the air.

While it's sleepy on the Hill, there is always action within your district.  Farmers markets are hoppin'.  Kids are getting ready to go back to school.

There are only eight days on the legislative calendar before Congress breaks again for a big campaign push.  On recess, your Senators and Representatives are making the rounds in their home states and districts.  Many of them are getting an earful about the drought and it's impact on farmers and farmland across the country.  So far, Congress has failed to provide farmers with any relief.  It being campaign season, no one wants to take “tough votes” on the Farm Bill or even a short-term disaster measure that would make a difference.

Farmers across the country are dealing with the worst drought in sixty years.  So why is the Farm Bill stalled in Congress?  House GOP leadership has refused to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.  Word on the Hill is that they don’t want House members (all of whom are up for re-election in November

While the Senate Agriculture Committee was marking up the Farm Bill on Thursday, April 26th, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing on conservation, the second of eight hearings the House will hold in order to write its version of the bill.  Witnesses testified that cuts to conservation beyond the $6 billion from the Senate would have severe consequences.