
Farm Bill Stalled as Congress Heads to the Campaign Trail
- foodfightadmin
- November 1, 2024
- Farm Bill 2024, Federal, Hunger In America, SNAP
- adlps, ads-5
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As Election Day approaches, the 2024 Farm Bill, a cornerstone of U.S. food and agricultural policy, remains in legislative limbo. After a brief return from its August recess, Congress has adjourned, with members focused on campaigning. This departure leaves numerous legislative priorities unresolved, among them the Farm Bill, which could have profound implications for agricultural subsidies, nutrition assistance, climate funding, and farmworker protections.
**Temporary Funding Keeps Government Afloat, But ****Farm Bill **Unaddressed
Before recessing, Congress managed to pass a temporary measure – a continuing resolution (CR) – that funds the government at previous fiscal year levels through December 20, 2024. With no agreement on a fiscal year 2025 budget, the CR prevents an immediate government shutdown but fails to address the Farm Bill’s expiration, which officially lapsed on September 30.
The 2018 Farm Bill, originally scheduled to end in 2023, was extended for one year last fall. Now expired, the bill’s programs hang in the balance, awaiting either new legislation or yet another extension. By choosing not to pass a second extension, Congress has kept the door open—albeit slightly—to the possibility of passing a new Farm Bill in the lame-duck session after the election.
**The House and Senate **Farm Bill Proposals: Sharp Contrasts
In May, the House Agriculture Committee approved a version of the Farm Bill that has yet to be taken up by the full House. This proposal has drawn criticism for its approach to climate, nutrition, and support for historically underserved farmers. Key points of contention include:
Climate-Related Conservation Funding: The House bill seeks to remove requirements that conservation funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) be allocated to climate-focused programs, a change strongly opposed by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and other environmental groups.
SNAP** Program Cuts**: The House proposal also introduces changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that could cut benefits by $30 billion over the next decade. Under this plan, updates to the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), which calculates SNAP benefit levels, would be limited, reducing the program’s responsiveness to scientific and dietary guidelines.
Worker Protections and Equity Initiatives: The House bill has been criticized for lacking adequate support for farm and food system workers and for failing to enhance protections for historically underserved farmers. It would also preempt local and state regulations on issues like packaging and pesticide use, sparking concerns among advocates for local regulatory control.
Meanwhile, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has proposed a markedly different framework, emphasizing climate action, SNAP protections, and equity measures. The Senate’s plan would:
Maintain Climate Specific Requirements for conservation funding, ensuring IRA resources support climate-related practices.
**Safeguard **SNAP by updating it every five years in alignment with scientific and nutritional developments, protecting the program from severe cuts.
Promote Equity by addressing heirs’ property issues, funding historically Black 1890 land-grant institutions, and expanding the role of the USDA farmworker coordinator.
Create a Farmworker and Food System Worker Advisory Committee aiming to elevate worker issues within USDA programs.
Stabenow’s proposal aligns more closely with the UCS goals, as it incorporates climate, equity, and worker protections, setting it apart from the House’s version.
**What Lies Ahead for the **Farm Bill
After the election, Congress will return to a packed legislative schedule, with most attention on must-pass bills such as the FY25 appropriations package. With limited time and competing priorities, moving the Farm Bill forward may prove challenging. However, ongoing discussions among House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders offer a glimmer of hope for potential compromise.
There is speculation that a negotiated version of the Farm Bill could be attached to a high-priority funding package, allowing it to be passed as part of broader legislative action before year’s end. If no Farm Bill is passed in the lame-duck session, the nation will enter 2025 without one, leaving critical programs in an uncertain state and presenting new opportunities for legislative direction under the next Congress.
A Call to Action: Shaping the Future of U.S. Food and Agricultural Policy
For those invested in the future of food and agricultural policy, the time to act is now. Advocates, including UCS, urge citizens to contact their representatives and push for a Farm Bill that prioritizes climate resilience, nutritional security, worker protections, and equitable support for all communities in agriculture. As the legislative calendar winds down, public support remains a powerful force in shaping the policies that could define the nation’s food and farm landscape for years to come.