Congressional negotiators are struggling to reach a deal to keep the government\u2019s lights on past Dec. 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Text of a continuing resolution (CR) for a government funding package was expected on Sunday ahead of the looming shutdown deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But lawmakers failed to release the text, with economic assistance for farmers emerging as an apparent last-minute sticking point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key players had indicated this week that the forthcoming CR, which keeps the government funded at current levels, would also include another one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, as both sides have struggled to agree on a longer-term plan. But lawmakers had also ramped up talks of potential add-ons to provide economic assistance for farmers as part of the broader funding plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sen. John Hoeven\u2002<\/u><\/a>(N.D.), the top Republican on the subcommittee that oversees agricultural funding, said in a statement on Saturday that GOP leadership backed a proposed package of \u201c$12 billion of relief for economic losses and $16 billion in weather-related assistance\u201d that he was hopeful of being attached as part of the year-end stopgap funding deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile we have kept this proposal clean of potentially partisan additions, we have not yet received the Democratic support we need,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cWe encourage the nation\u2019s farmers, ranchers, and agriculture stakeholders to let their representatives know how critical it is for the Continuing Resolution to include both economic and weather agriculture assistance for America\u2019s producers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Democrats took aim at Republicans over the sputtered talks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow\u2002<\/u><\/a>(D-Mich.) and House Agriculture Committee ranking member David Scott\u2002<\/u><\/a>(D-Ga.) said<\/u><\/a> on Saturday that GOP leadership turned down a $10 billion offer, rejecting \u201cneeded economic assistance and increased conservation spending for decades.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor weeks, congressional Democrats have provided a pathway to a farm bill extension that will deliver tens of billions of dollars in economic assistance and investments in farm bill programs that farmers rely on,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTheir eleventh-hour offer fell short of what farmers need, shortchanged critical farm bill programs, and steals from critically needed assistance to address recent natural disasters. We can and should do both economic and disaster assistance, not pit one against the other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They also stressed the importance that the proposal be \u201cpaid for and does not take any funding away from the critical natural disaster aid that has been requested.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emphasis comes as the Biden administration has called on Congress to approve more $100 billion in disaster aid from Congress for a number of agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the departments of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development and Transportation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stabenow also told The Hill this week that she \u201cfound resources\u201d to pay for the additional economic assistance, but wouldn\u2019t offer specifics. However, Politico reported<\/u><\/a> Democrats were hopeful of reinvesting billions of dollars in climate conservation funds from the party\u2019s Inflation Reduction Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Congress is facing a quickly narrowing window to act on legislation to avert a shutdown. The House\u2019s self-imposed 72-hour rule means the legislation must be released within the next couple days for the lower chamber to act on it and give the Senate time to pass it as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the absence of further economic support for farmers could pose a hurdle to the forthcoming stopgap\u2019s chances of passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n