Policy Updates and Issue News September 2024

Last-ditch appeal for a farm bill now

Farmers hammered hardest by commodity market declines hit Capitol Hill in early September for a final push to get a new farm bill this year. In an unusual lobbying strategy, teams of farmers representing the row crops that depend upon the major commodity title programs were accompanied by ag lenders who made the case that many of these farmers will face a dire financial situation because of price declines heading into the next year. But time is fast running out to pass a new farm bill. The Senate Agriculture Committee has taken no action, and the House Agriculture Committee farm bill has a $33 billion funding gap. Congress will likely pass a one-year extension in the lame-duck session after elections.

Reality check on food price policy

A majority of consumers in both political parties apparently believe elected officials of either party can help lower grocery prices given how important inflation is to likely voters this fall. Despite what both Vice President Harris and former President Trump are promising on the campaign trail, the next leader of the free world has limited options to lower food costs in a speedy or widespread manner. However, the next President might try using the bully pulpit, increasing antitrust enforcement, enforcing a price-gouging ban, and, many economists argue, expanding the domestic energy supply.

Food aid shortages cause concern

Delayed, canceled, partial, and expired food deliveries to tribal and senior USDA food assistance programs caused a stir on Capitol Hill, resulting in a major hearing before the House Agriculture and Appropriations Committees. Around 800,000 people rely on these feeding programs often because they lack access to grocery stores. It was discovered that USDA had consolidated its distribution system with only one contractor. That contractor will be called back to Capitol Hill at a later date to investigate the situation further.

Rural maternal health is a growing concern

A lack of access to obstetric care in rural areas is a known and growing challenge. Recent closures of rural obstetric units and hospitals have exacerbated concerns about access to care for millions of women of reproductive age living in rural communities. Many rural areas have a shortage of providers with training in maternity care. Long travel distances hinder access to prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care, leading some women to temporarily relocate near an obstetrics facility or to choose to have a C-section. Some areas are looking at creating regional obstetrics hubs in existing rural hospitals.

Focus on obesity

National Grange president Chris Hamp recently highlighted the public health issue of obesity in rural America. In a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05), Hamp pointed out the adverse impacts of obesity on Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions. Hamp urged the Chair to move the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) through her committee and send it to the house floor for passage with broad bipartisan support. TROA would allow those aging into Medicare who are on existing obesity medications to continue to have access to them.

Granges advocate for dialysis patients

The National Grange and 21 state Granges petitioned the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to leave the current policy for obtaining Phosphate Lowering Therapies (PLTs) in place. Patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis depend upon PLTs to stabilize their phosphate levels. These need to continue to be available in pill form from the local pharmacy without having to travel to a dialysis center for injections and to continue to be paid for by Medicare Part D.

Small molecule medicines for chronic diseases

The National Grange joined patient groups to call on Congress to protect small molecule medicine access and innovation and pass the EPIC Act. The EPIC Act would rectify unintended consequences of the Inflation Reduction Act that created disincentives for small molecule research. Small molecule medications are adept at crossing the blood-brain barrier for the treatment of neurological conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, and other mental health conditions.

5G mobile wireless broadband coming

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to roll out the first phase of the 5G Fund for America. The $9 billion effort will fund the deployment of fixed wireless voice and broadband service infrastructure to unserved rural areas.  Small antennas will be placed on buildings every few blocks in cities and on utility poles and other locations in rural areas. In remote rural areas, additional technologies may be required. These funds are in addition to $42.5 billion BEAD broadband deployment program currently being distributed to the states.

Keep ag supply chain open

A wide cross-section of the agricultural supply chain faces imminent and severe shipping disruptions due to rail embargoes impacting trade with Mexico, potential labor strikes at East Coast ports, and historically low water levels on the Mississippi River. It’s harvest time, and moving a large crop to world markets may be challenging. The National Grange, agriculture groups, food companies, and exporters wrote President Biden this week asking him and his administration to pursue all avenues to mitigate supply chain challenges facing U.S. agriculture.

Former senator, Ag Secretary recognizes Grange

Mike Johanns was Nebraska’s U.S. Senator from 2009-2015 and Secretary of Agriculture from 2005-2007. His recent op-ed in Washington’s Agri-Pulse newsletter profiled the National Grange’s longstanding opposition to patent trolls. Patent trolls are non-practicing entities that are shell companies that acquire patents but do not actually produce anything. Trolls then bring meritless patent infringement lawsuits against manufacturers of high-tech equipment that are vital to farmers and ranchers.

House passes oversight of foreign land purchases

The House of Representatives passed legislation in September that would increase oversight of farmland purchases by investors from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The bill, sponsored by Representative Dan Newhouse (R-04-WA), adds the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The group is an interagency body tasked with screening foreign investments in U.S. companies or property for potential threats to national security. Foreign investors owned or leased 43.4 million acres, or about 3.4% of the nation’s total farm, ranch, and forest land, in 2022, according to USDA. Representative Newhouse is a former National Grange Champion of Rural America recipient.

Close China trade loophole

House Democrats have called on President Biden to end a trade provision that’s been a boon for China’s e-commerce companies. They urged the President to take quick executive action to address what is known as the de minimis provision in U.S. trade law, which lets shipments valued at $800 or less enter the country with relatively little scrutiny. Critics, including members of both parties, claim that de minimis allows importers to potentially circumvent a U.S. crackdown the U.S. on goods made with China-based forced labor and provides a conduit for dangerous contraband such as fentanyl to enter the country amid the deluge of packages.

“I’ve often said there is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.”  ~ Ronald Reagan

“I can make a general in five minutes, but a good horse is hard to replace.”  ~  Abraham Lincoln

“There is something about riding down the street on a prancing horse that makes you feel like something, even though you ain’t a thing.”  ~  Will Rogers

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”  ~  John Wayne