Congress has multiple priorities to help farmers — year-round E15, a full farm bill, and $15 billion in direct aid — but lawmakers still lack a clear path to pass any of it despite bipartisan support and backing from key leaders.
Members of the North American Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ) organization met on Tuesday with the chair and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, along with two senior members of the House Agriculture Committee.
The four lawmakers’ comments reflected strong bipartisan support for aiding farmers but little consensus on how to move key legislative priorities forward.
The lion’s share of the commodity title, funding for conservation and crop insurance were cleared in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer.
At the same time, the credit title, rural development and other USDA programs are operating on the latest extension passed by Congress. Credit, in particular, is seen as an area ripe for expansion to help farmers manage financial stress, but passing a full farm bill remains uncertain.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., stressed that the farm bill takes 60 votes to pass the Senate, and House Republicans operate with a slim majority.
“There’s no path forward on the farm bill if it is not bipartisan.”
With midterm elections ahead, Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said lawmakers “need to clear the deck” and pass a full farm bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., also is term limited, so he would not hold the gavel even if Republicans hold onto the House. Lucas said he would like to be considered for the top GOP spot next year on the committee, but he also said he does not want to restart the farm bill process from scratch.
“We need for this to be done so we can move on,” Lucas said.
Despite support from President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., the narrow majorities in both chambers make it difficult to get legislation passed right now, Lucas said.
“That’s the more complicated part. Nobody is in absolute control of the body, right?” Lucas said.
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