09-23-20 NFU: Stopgap Funding Provides Important Relief for Farmers, Hungry Americans

WASHINGTON – With government funding due to run out next week, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed a continuing resolution that would keep federal agencies running through December 11. In addition to preventing a government shutdown, the stopgap measure would provide nearly $8 billion for nutrition assistance programs, replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), and stipulate some Congressional oversight of spending through CCC.

Throughout the pandemic, National Farmers Union (NFU) has encouraged Congress and the administration to expand the nutrition safety net and ensure that farm assistance is distributed fairly. In a statement, NFU President Rob Larew commended the resolution and urged the Senate to act quickly to pass its own stopgap funding bill:

“The last thing farmers and rural Americans need right now, on top of the pandemic and everything else, is a government shutdown. We are relieved that the House has come to an agreement on a stopgap funding bill that would prevent such a shutdown, and we hope that the Senate will follow their lead. In particular, we urge them to adopt the House’s provisions that would help hungry families and schoolchildren access food, offer Congressional oversight of farm assistance spending, and prevent oil corporations from taking advantage of Commodity Credit Corporation funds.”