The Farm Invoice, Authorities Funding, and Political Gridlock
2024 was a yr to recollect within the political realm, not for the actions taken by Congress, however moderately the cans kicked down the proverbial street. We at OFRF needed to take a second to evaluate a number of the happenings on the shut of final yr, and provides a short overview of what which means for the legislative and administrative agendas in 2025.
What Occurred in 2024?
Lengthy story brief, the final yr of the 118th Congress was outlined by a number of aspiration and nearly no supply. Right here’s a fast rundown of the objects we’ve been watching:
- The 2018 Farm Invoice was prolonged (for the second time) for a yr, expiring in September 2025. This extension didn’t embrace essential packages that don’t obtain obligatory ranges of funding, just like the Natural Certification Price Share Program and the 1890 Land Grant College Scholarship program.
- FY25 Appropriations was delayed nicely into the fiscal yr by passing a Persevering with Decision (CR) that funds the federal government at FY24 ranges into March of 2025. For reference, Congress often begins engaged on the following fiscal yr funds in February of the previous yr, doubtlessly making a log jam with all the remainder of the legislative actions wanted this yr.
- The federal debt restrict was not raised or amended, which implies that the US Treasury might want to order all businesses to start “extraordinary measures” nearly instantly within the new administration.
What Must Occur in 2025?
Due to the dearth of motion in 2024, that has simply added extra work to the legislative calendar in 2025:
- The Farm Invoice is in determined want of updating, and the Farm Invoice course of begins over from sq. one; that means that marker payments and priorities should be reintroduced and revisited, and new Members of Congress have to be educated on the significance and impacts of the Farm Invoice’s many insurance policies on their States and Districts.
- Each FY25 and FY26 Appropriations packages will should be completed and handed to each keep away from a authorities shutdown, and in addition be certain that the packages and helps that our farmers and researchers want proceed!
- One of many greatest issues taking on area on the legislative calendar to date this yr has been Reconciliation, which is an in depth funds and legislative course of that Congress can use to maneuver cash round that has not but been obligated to a selected program or line merchandise. As some would possibly keep in mind from the Democrat’s use of this early within the Biden Administration it’s tough and really procedurally demanding.
- One other budget-related activity is the debt restrict, talked about above. That is totally different from the necessity to cross a funds, or reconcile for various priorities; that is the authority of the US Treasury to determine new money owed to pay for ongoing obligations. To place merely, that is the debt restrict on the nation’s bank cards, and we’re near hitting it as soon as once more.
What You Can Do
Whereas this legislative gridlock is irritating, there are methods to make your voice heard and advocate for the packages that matter most:
Name Your Representatives and Senators: Ask them what their stance is on natural agriculture and agricultural analysis. Tell us how these conversations go!
Spotlight the Impacts: Share private tales about how these packages profit you, your group, or your operation. Legislators usually tend to act once they hear straight from their constituents.
Keep Engaged: Sustain with the newest developments and take part in advocacy alternatives as they come up. Sharing data along with your community can amplify the message and drive better motion.
This persevering with state of affairs underscores the significance of public engagement and advocacy to make sure that the packages supporting natural farmers, agricultural analysis, and rural resilience stay funded and efficient. As Congress resumes discussions within the coming months, OFRF will proceed to push for sturdy investments in natural agriculture and assist for crucial orphan packages.
Your voice is important. Collectively, we will make sure that the worth of natural farming, analysis, and schooling is acknowledged and supported in Washington.
Keep engaged. Keep knowledgeable. Collectively, we will make a distinction.
We’re right here for it,
Gordon
OFRF Senior Coverage & Applications Supervisor
gordon@ofrf.org
