OMAHA (DTN) -- The ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday called out the conservative House Freedom Caucus for opposing disaster aid in the final days of Congress.
The House Freedom Caucus, a bloc of roughly 40 GOP members, released a statement late Wednesday opposing an unpaid disaster supplemental bill saying it would fund the Biden administration, which has "politicized disaster aid relief and prioritized illegal immigrants over American citizens."
"Congress should not pass a whopping $100 billion unpaid disaster supplemental funding bill -- that Democrats will use to cement their own unrelated priorities -- in the waning days of Democrat control in Washington right before Republicans take control of the White House and both Chambers (of Congress)," the Freedom Caucus stated. "The House should consider only what is absolutely necessary right now to provide critical relief to hurricane victims and farmers, and pay for it with offsets from wasteful spending elsewhere in the government, then wait for President Trump to take office to better manage disaster relief."
The Freedom Caucus' stance could force House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to decide if he will again rely on Democratic votes to pass aid before the end of the year. Republicans operate with a thin margin in the House, a margin that will drop by one member next year.
Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, criticized the Freedom Caucus for wanting to "deny aid" to farm families. Georgia's agriculture sector was hard-hit by the hurricanes and lawmakers from both parties had called for an aid package before the election. Scott pointed to negotiations among the "four corners" -- the chair and ranking members of the House and Senate agriculture committees -- to put together aid for farmers.
"The House Freedom Caucus not only threatens the natural disaster supplemental, but it also undermines efforts among the four corners of the House and Senate agriculture committees to craft much-needed economic assistance that addresses the ongoing downturn in large parts of the agricultural economy," Scott said.
Scott called on President-elect Donald Trump to direct the Freedom Caucus members to "stand down" and develop an aid package. Scott also called on the Freedom Caucus, which doesn't officially release its membership, to release the vote tally that led the group to take its position. "Let the rest of the House and the world know which Freedom Caucus members are fine with denying aid to their constituents when nature unleashes its fury."
President Joe Biden last month proposed a $98.4 billion disaster relief package, mainly to help recovery from hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters. Biden's plan called for $23.5 billion for USDA, of which $21 billion would go to farmers and ranchers who suffered crop or livestock losses from disasters.
While House conservatives are now pressing for offsets and saying they would reject the bill. Other Republicans such as Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., the incoming chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., earlier this week pointed to the downturn in farm income as reason not only to pass a farm bill but also to provide aid. "Congress must provide substantial economic aid to help offset those hardest hit," Boozman and Thompson stated.
Boozman took to the Senate floor earlier this week to call for aid to farmers to get through the year.
Late last month, other Republican senators in a hearing on disaster aid also advocated aid for farmers facing "market-related disasters" in a U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.
"We need to be focusing on market disaster as well, which doesn't seem to be getting the proper attention," Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., said. "Today, American farmers and ranchers are experiencing literally unprecedented market conditions."
The net farm income report from USDA earlier this week showed a $6 billion dip from 2023, coming in at $140.7 billion. One of the key takeaways is the contrast between crop producers who are forecast to see cash receipts fall by $25 billion this year while livestock producers are projected to see cash receipts rise by $21 billion.
While the Freedom Caucus complained that the funds would go to the Biden administration, the reality is that even if Congress quickly passes a disaster package, the actual release of any funds to farmers would not happen until after the Trump administration takes office. The incoming Agriculture secretary and Trump's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would weigh in before any funds are provided to producers.
See, "GOP Senators Say Any Aid Package Needs to Help Farmers With Market-Related Disasters," https://www.dtnpf.com/…
Also see, "Boozman Meets Ag Secretary Nominee Rollins, Presses for Farmer Aid But Farm Bill in Limbo," https://www.dtnpf.com/…
Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com
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