CCC Funding Assured In Continuing Resolution

House leaders reached an agreement l Tuesday night that would allow funding to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation, which has been heavily relied on for coronavirus relief packages as well as farm bill programs. The agreement comes after talks broke down over the weekend between Congressional Democrats and the White House, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi charging that CCC funds were being used as a slush fund for President Trump to spread political favors before November’s general election.

During a recent Agri-Pulse forum, Top Senate Ag Democrat Debbie Stabenow cited a sourced Reuters story alleging that the administration was considering using CCC funds for oil companies…

Reuters also reported that USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue was not in favor of the idea, and the White House has since dropped the plan. Stabenow agreed with Pelosi in suggesting that without accountability provisions added to the resolution, the CCC could become a “slush fund”…

The continuing resolution passed the House Tuesday night by a 359-57 vote and now moves to the Senate. The stopgap budget bill would run through December 11.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, who had been critical of Democrats withholding the funds, stated: “Democrats have heard our call, and the calls from farm country, to not ignore rural America when funding the government.” National Farmers Union president Rob Larew also issued a statement Tuesday night expressing the group’s relief. Larew said the last thing farmers and rural Americans needed was a government shutdown, and urged the Senate to pass the measure.