Clock ticking on new farm bill

MONTICELLO, Ill. — With a September deadline, and a congressional summer vacation on the calendar, the clock is ticking on a new five-year farm bill.

“I am growing concerned because we have yet to see text of the farm bill,” said Rep. Nikki Budzinski, the Democratic congresswoman who represents the 13th Congressional District in central and southern Illinois.

Budzinski conducted a farm bill listening and informational session, with members of her Agricultural Advisory Council, on March 29 in Monticello. She was scheduled to return to Washington on April 8.

“I am hoping that when we get back to Washington on April 8, we will see text and we can start the move to getting it accomplished by the September deadline,” she said.

Budzinski expressed some frustration at the delay in work on a new farm bill. The five-year farm bill expired on Sept. 30, 2023.

Congress extended the bill by one year, meaning that the extension expires on Sept. 30, 2024.

The timeline for getting a new farm bill completed is further complicated by the monthlong break that Congress traditionally takes in August.

“We go on break and our in-district work period for the entire month of August. So, we really need to start moving quickly in April. We have April, May, June and July to get this done,” Budzinski said.

Discussions and farm bill listening sessions have been ongoing, but the lack of actual text is a big concern.

“A lot of the conversations have already been happening. It’s just that we have yet to see actual text of the bill and that’s really important. This is a very big omnibus bill that touches on a lot of different issues, so it’s important that we have time to really review the text,” Budzinski said.

Two potential points of contention are the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the nutrition titles of the farm bill and crop insurance. Budzinski stressed the importance of maintaining both programs.

“Let’s hold crop insurance harmless. I think it’s really important that we do that. That is what I have heard from my Agricultural Advisory Council. That is what I have heard from farmers in my district. That is what I would expect to see in a farm bill,” she said.

Budzinski expressed concern that Republicans could be targeting SNAP and the nutrition titles for cuts.

“These programs are critically important. SNAP is a program that working families in central and southern Illinois rely on. I want to remind folks, too, that our growers are the ones producing the food that is purchased by those using the SNAP program,” she said.

“I am very concerned that House Republicans have had some initiatives to cut the SNAP program, eliminating 10 million families from the SNAP program. Four million of those 10 million are children. That is unacceptable and I am hoping we don’t go down that road.”