Policy Updates and Issue News December 2023
| Washington Overview |
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Welcome to the New Year where it’s anything but happy on the political front in Washington. Congress left town for the holidays without a deal for aid to Ukraine and Israel which was tied to new border controls along our southern boundary. This Achillies Heel for Congress will still be on Congress’ agenda for January. So will funding the federal government when the stop-gap funding measure runs out mid-month. Congress agreed to budget spending caps for fiscal 2024 in the legislation that raised the debt ceiling earlier this year, but this agreement may not survive new stopgap funding negotiations in January. The House has formally approved a Biden impeachment inquiry on a vote along party lines. Biden son Hunter’s legal problems continue to mount. Biden’s age comes up in practically every reelection discussion. The President’s approval rating is worst of modern-day presidents seeking reelection at this point in the election cycle according to Gallup. Former President Trump appears to have a lock on the Republican presidential nomination right now. However, former South Carolina Governor and former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is closing the gap a little on Trump heading into New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary on January 23. Trump continues to juggle campaign stops and court appearances. Congress passed and the President signed the $886 billion annual Defense Department authorization bill to keep the Pentagon operating for the remainder of fiscal 2024. Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy leaves Congress at the end of the year. His departure will further squeeze the already razor-thin House GOP majority. As migrants continued to cross the Rio Grande in record numbers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection closed border rail crossings for five days to divert attention to processing the surge of migrants. These rail crossing closures temporarily disrupted the supply chain for farm commodities, consumer goods, auto parts, finished vehicles and chemicals. |
| Agriculture and Food |
House votes to allow whole milk back in schoolsOn a huge bipartisan vote of 330-99; the House passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act which calls for whole milk and 2% milk to again be allowed in school lunches. House Agriculture Chairman G. T. Thompson entered 15 academic studies from around the world into the legislative record which supported whole and 2% milk in children’s diets. An amendment by Representative Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin would assure USDA continues to allow flavored milk for all grades. A recent study found that removing flavored milk from kindergarten through fifth grade resulted in a 62% reduction in milk consumption. The bill faces tougher opposition in the Senate where several influential senators are concerned about Congress interfering in school lunch standards. National Grange policy strongly supports whole and flavored milk in school meals. USDA considering foreign land ownership updateThe Department of Agriculture, under intense scrutiny for its lack of accuracy in reporting foreign land ownership, is considering updates to its foreign land reporting form. The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act requires foreign investors to file a form with the Farm Service Agency in the county where land is purchased that details number of acres, buyers’ country of origin, purchase price, and intended use of the land. Grange supports ag and food researchThe National Grange and 44 ag, food and consumer groups are calling on the administration budget and scientific offices to consider the significant challenges to our food and agriculture systems as they prepare the fiscal year 2025 budget for USDA. Funding requests would cover the Agriculture Research Service (USDA’s in-house research agency), the National Institute for Food and Agriculture ( external research at land-grant colleges, experiment stations, schools of forestry, schools of veterinary medicine and cooperative extension), the National Agriculture Statistics Service, and the Economic Research Service. |
| Conservation and Environment |
Ag in focus at international climate meeting COP28The 28thannual climate Conference of the Parties (COP28) meeting of 200 countries in Dubai, United Arab Emirates added a focus on agriculture this year. The U.S. message to COP28 was that farmers and ranchers can address climate change using a “climate smart” approach that does not sacrifice production. Instead of calling for the elimination of animal agriculture in the name of climate change, the session accepted the fact that sustainable production of animal-source foods is at the heart of climate and food security solutions, especially for developing countries. Among other actions, nearly 200 nations agreed to transition from fossil fuels. Poll says adults are concerned about climate changeA new CNN poll conducted by SSRS shows that more than half of U.S. adults are worried about the impact of extreme weather including extreme heat, devastating storms and drought. Most adults say humanity bears a great deal of responsibility to reduce climate change. Nearly all Democrats, 76% of independents and half of Republicans say the U.S. should slash its greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030. |
| Health Care |
Ensure senior access to pharmacist careThe National Grange cosigned letters to key decision-makers in the Biden administration and Congress urging passage of the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (H.R. 1770, S.2477). The legislation would provide payment for essential pharmacist services under Medicare Part B and ensure pharmacists can continue to protect seniors from the threat of COVID-19, flu, RSV, strep throat, pneumonia, and hepatitis B. Senior access to critical services at the pharmacy is a great benefit to rural residents who may have limited access to quality health care. Help rural hospitals stay openThe newly formed congressional bipartisan Rural Health Caucus aims to give rural hospitals better financial stability. They are encouraging the adoption of the Assistance for Rural Community Hospitals Act (H.R.6430). Introduced by Miller(R-WV) and Sewell (D-AL), the proposed legislation would extend both the Medicare-dependent hospital program and the Medicare low-volume payment program for five years which are essential to help struggling rural hospitals experiencing higher percentages of patients on Medicare. |
| Taxes |
Death tax repeal introducedThe Death Tax Repeal Act of 2024 has been introduced by Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-4-IA) and Sanford Bishop (D-2-GA). The National Grange joined 71 agricultural, rural, small business and other family -owned business groups in expressing appreciation to Feenstra and Bishop. National Grange policy supports repeal as the best way to protect family-owned businesses from the estate taxes. |
| Telecommunications |
Secure the future of Affordable Connectivity ProgramThe National Grange continues to advocate for funding to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that provides financial assistance to families in need connect to the internet. Newly-elected National Grange president Christine Hamp wrote the leadership of the Senate and House committees of jurisdiction in December reiterating the need to connect rural families and communities and to finally close the digital divide in rural America. Pole attachment disputes finally get FCC actionThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to increase transparency for new broadband buildouts and to set up a dedicated team (the Rapid Broadband Assessment Team) to speed up the resolution process for pole attachment disputes. The team will screen and mediate disputes between utility and telecommunications companies that could hinder broadband deployments, particularly in rural areas. The National Grange has repeatedly petitioned the FCC for such action for the past two years. Broadband funding coming to statesThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 included $42.5 billion for broadband internet access as part of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD). This differs from previous federal broadband programs in that it allocates funding to individual states and allows them to figure out the best way to distribute these funds. States are now working with the federal government to develop plans for how they will use these funds. The legislation requires locations defined as unserved and underserved receive first priority for broadband deployment funding. Around 11.8 million rural and urban locations are considered unserved or underserved. Unserved locations currently have no internet or have speeds below 25MPS downstream and 3Mps upstream. Underserved locations have speeds below 100Mps downstream and 20Mps upstream. The National Grange was very active during the legislative process to make sure the law directs the unserved be served first, the underserved next, then all others. |
| Of Interest |
New type of company could control landThe New York Stock Exchange is seeking permission to list a “natural asset” company (Intrinsic Exchange Group) that leases public and private lands for “ecological services” while prohibiting grazing, ranching, farming, mining, logging and drilling. The company would attract investors that want to express a sustainability thesis that identifies species extinction, water pollution, and the effects of farming and ranching as “threats to life on earth”. Western states in particular are wary that the proposal is a back door approach to regulating land use. Ranchers who depend upon grazing on public lands would almost certainly lose their grazing leases. Foreign countries could tie up these land resources for example. Investor businesses could claim carbon offsets from these resources to bolster their social and environmental credentials. |
| Perspective |
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“Mail your packages early so the Post Office can lose them in time for Christmas”. ~ Johnny Carson
“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day”. ~ Andy Rooney “A good conscience is a continual Christmas”. ~ Benjamin Franklin “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year”. ~ Charles Dickens ”When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things – not the great occasions – give us the greatest glow of happiness”. ~ Bob Hope “May this season find you among those you love, sharing the twin glories of generosity and gratitude”. ~ Oprah Winfrey “Mankind is a great, an immense family. This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas”. ~ Pope John XXIII “And we are better throughout the year for having in spirit, become a child again at Christmas”. ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder |
