Yesterday, we reported that there was a disagreement that had brewed over funding of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). House Democrats had unveiled a ?Continuing Resolution? (CR) that would keep the Federal Government funded but did not include support for funding the CCC. The CCC is responsible for funding Farm Bill programs which are provided by law, and also has been the center of the COVID-19 relief packages made available to farmers.
We talked about a letter that was sent from the entire Iowa Delegation: Republican Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Representatives Finkenauer (D-1st), Loebsack (D-2nd), Axne (D-3rd), and King (R-4th). The letter asked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to find a way to include funding for the CCC in any continuing resolutions.
Audio: Full Interview with Congresswoman Cindy Axne (D-IA 3rd)
Late on Tuesday evening, the House passed their modified CR. Their new version included CCC funding at it passed by a vote of 359-57. However, there are some caveats attached to the funding. Terms that most producers in Iowa will probably have no problem with.
Congresswoman Cindy Axne talked with me this morning about the situation that developed over the CCC. She said that the situation was not one the Iowa delegation was going to allow to continue. Axne said that even after the letter was sent, it did not look promising, so they took to the phones.
Axne added that she also worked on talking with her other midwestern lawmakers to let them know this could not stand. She wanted the message to House leadership to be clear.
There is a caveat to the funding. Rumors have been swirling for a few days that the Trump Administration wanted to earmark $300 million in CCC funds from the USDA to support oil refineries that lost their battle for continued and backdated gap-year waivers. The House CR explicitly prohibits this from happening.
The term ?slush fund? has been used a lot from Democratic leadership over the past few days regarding the CCC. It was even mentioned by Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). Axne said that she was aware of the use of the term and it was something that was not going to be tolerated, even if it came from her own party.
Axne said the Iowa delegation is going to be in Washington making sure that farmers are not left behind when crucial government funding is discussed.
Now it is up to the Senate to approve this CR or come up with their own funding measures. The funding for the government runs out on September 30th. The House resolution funds it through December 11th.
