John Thune Calls For Bipartisan Support For A 'Full And Updated' Farm Bill

2 days ago

During remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) spoke about passing an updated farm bill.

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Transcript

00:00Mr. President, there's not much in our lives that doesn't depend in some way on agriculture.

00:05The food on our table, the gas in our car, the cotton in our shirts.

00:10Agriculture is the lifeblood of our country.

00:13And I'm grateful for the men and women who rise before the dawn

00:16for a hard day's work on farms and ranches across America.

00:20Mr. President, agriculture is a difficult way of life.

00:24It's filled with uncertainty.

00:26Storms, drought, or an early freeze can wipe out entire crops or herds,

00:31sometimes in an instant.

00:34There's market volatility, processing and transportation challenges,

00:39and the list goes on.

00:41Mr. President, the last few years have been especially challenging

00:44for America's farmers and ranchers.

00:47They face declining commodity prices, higher input costs and higher interest rates,

00:53not to mention the natural disasters that have struck many parts of the country.

00:58Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall recently told the Agriculture Committee that,

01:02and I quote,

01:04in 2025, farmers will plant one of the most expensive crops ever, end quote.

01:10And many commodity producers are bracing for the prospect of serious financial losses this year.

01:16Mr. President, these challenges are real.

01:19That's why, last December, Congress approved relief funding for agriculture producers

01:23hit by economic headwinds as well as those affected by natural disasters.

01:28Secretary Rollins committed to getting these funds out the door quickly during her confirmation hearing.

01:33And last week, USDA announced that farmers could now apply for direct payments

01:37from the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program through their local farm service agency.

01:43Additional assistance for those affected by natural disasters will be available soon.

01:47Programs like the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program

01:51are designed to help farmers weather the current storm.

01:55But let's be clear.

01:57They are only temporary measures.

02:00And they are no substitute for an updated Farm Bill

02:03that provides the resources that farmers and ranchers need to face current conditions.

02:08When I became Majority Leader, I made it clear that a full and updated Farm Bill

02:12would be a priority for the new Republican majority.

02:15Secretary Rollins has been clear that this is a priority for the Trump administration as well.

02:20And I appreciate the work that the Agriculture Committee is doing under Chairman Bozeman

02:25to respond to the needs of farmers and ranchers.

02:28During my time in Congress, I've had a role in crafting four Farm Bills.

02:32This will be my fifth.

02:34It's a difficult task at any time.

02:36And it's harder when the situation is as dire as it is today.

02:40But Senate Republicans remain committed to finishing this important work

02:43and delivering a Farm Bill that ensures farmers and ranchers have the resources they need

02:48to face today's challenges and tomorrow's as well.

02:52And I hope that our Democrat colleagues will join us in working productively

02:56to deliver this important legislation.

02:58Farmers and ranchers need certainty so that they can plan for the future.

03:03And providing that certainty is a priority of mine.

03:07I've introduced a number of bills that I will work to see incorporated into the Farm Bill,

03:11including the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act

03:15and Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Program, among others.

03:20Strengthening the farm safety net is an important priority of mine,

03:24as is a stable biofuels policy, including year-round access to E15

03:31and timely and meaningful updates to the renewable volume obligations

03:35that matter to ethanol producers in America's heartland.

03:39And I continue to advocate for eliminating the death tax once and for all

03:44so that no farmer or rancher has to worry about whether the family farm or ranch

03:48will be able to stay in the family after they pass.

03:53Mr. President, life on a farm or ranch isn't easy.

03:57And I'm grateful to all of our farmers and ranchers, including in my home state of South Dakota,

04:03for the remarkable job that they do day in and day out, feeding not only our country, but the world.

04:09And we have a responsibility to the men and women who work hard every day

04:13to deliver food, fuel, and fiber for America and the world.

04:18I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues

04:21to deliver the updated legislation that farmers and ranchers need.

04:27Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of quorum.

04:32Mr. Speaker, call the roll.

04:33Ms. Ossobrooks.

John Thune Calls For Bipartisan Support For A 'Full And Updated' Farm Bill

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