U.S. Congressional leaders Monday passed a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and $900 billion coronavirus relief package. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) calls the deal “a major agreement that struggling Americans have needed for months.”
Agricultural groups applauded passage of the bipartisan relief package, which replenishes the Payment Protection Program (PPP), dedicates $13 billion to agricultural assistance and programs, and $7 billion to bolster rural broadband.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) welcomes the “much-needed relief package,” states Scott Bennett, AFBF Congressional relations director.
“We’re pleased that Congress understands that there’s been a toll that this pandemic has continued to take on farmers, ranchers, and rural America,” Bennett says. “This round of assistance addresses losses suffered by farmers who were forced to euthanize livestock prematurely with no market and therefore, no income, and that includes contract growers. We’re pleased that the bill provides additional help for specialty and non-specialty crop growers. And the Paycheck Protection Program will help small farmers continue operating.”
Congress also offered relief to the biofuels industry. Emily Skor, Chief Executive Officer at Growth Energy, thanked Congress for “stepping up and preventing needless uncertainty from holding back the rural economy.”
“In 2020, ethanol production is down about 13-percent compared to the previous year, and 2021 is also projecting to be lower than 2019 levels. Ensuring stability is imperative as we head into the new year, and we urge Secretary Perdue to move quickly on providing relief to the biofuels industry,” Skor says.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill soon.
