We share from The Hagstrom Report, which never misses a beat when it comes to farm and rural policy reports:
“The continuing resolution funding the Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration expires on March 1, but Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., the ranking member on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, said today that some issues still have to be “bumped up” to House leaders to settle.
“In a brief interview on the sidelines of a House Agriculture Committee hearing, Bishop said the committee staff has been working on a bill to provide funding for the rest of fiscal year 2024, but “there are sticky issues that will have to bumped up to the leadership level.”
“’There are pretty hard lines’” between the parties, he said.
“Bishop did not detail what the issues are, but an earlier version of the bill contained a ban on mailing abortion pills, which moderate Republicans would not support, and cuts to farm programs, which rural Republicans would not support.
“The subcommittee has also been under pressure to provide additional funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Agriculture Department officials have said that at current funding levels, WIC will run out of money, and states will have to start establishing waiting lists for participation in the program.
“Unlike other nutrition programs, WIC is not an entitlement, but an appropriated program. For decades Congress has provided enough money to pay for all mothers and small children to participate.
“Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, a member of the Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee and the ranking member on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, said that Republicans and Democrats have resolved almost all issues in its fiscal year 2024 bill.
“The continuing resolution funding the Interior Department and related agencies expires on March 8.”