Iowa and national lawmakers have been offering a cautiously optimistic outlook for the Farm Bill as Congress prepares to return from its August recess.
Earlier this week, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson discussed the path ahead for the Farm Bill, including the work still needed to move the Senate version and eventually bring the House and Senate together.
Now Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is offering another perspective on why she believes lawmakers still have a chance to get the legislation across the finish line.
Ernst visited with the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network at the Iowa State Fair and said she remains optimistic, despite the Senate Agriculture Committee being unable to advance its version before lawmakers left Washington. The absence of Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell left Republicans one member short on the committee, but Ernst said negotiations have continued during the August break.
Ernst said several major issues still have to be resolved, including priorities with direct implications for Iowa agriculture.
One is California’s Proposition 12 and its impact on Iowa pork producers. Ernst said she wants to see language addressing the issue included in the final Farm Bill.
Another is permanent year-round E15.
Ernst said she believes the Senate version contains a bipartisan approach to E15, but said SNAP remains one of the biggest issues separating Republicans and Democrats.
That disagreement becomes especially important because the Farm Bill will need 60 votes to clear the Senate.
Ernst said Republicans will need Democratic support and believes finding a compromise on SNAP could provide the votes needed to advance the legislation.
If the Senate can move its version, lawmakers would then have to reconcile differences between the House and Senate bills in conference committee.
One of those differences involves year-round E15. Ernst said she believes the issue can ultimately survive conference negotiations and pointed to support from President Trump as another reason she expects it to remain part of a final agreement.
Ernst’s comments provide a little more detail on how she sees the pieces coming together.
First, Senate negotiators have to find enough bipartisan agreement to reach 60 votes. After that, House and Senate negotiators would have to resolve their remaining differences in conference.
Ernst said keeping negotiations open during the August recess is critical and believes lawmakers still have an opportunity to move the bill when they return to Washington.
The effort also carries some personal significance for Ernst as she approaches the end of her time in the Senate.
She was part of the effort that produced the 2018 Farm Bill and said she hopes lawmakers can complete another one before she leaves office.
