Bill passed to avert shut-down, fund ag programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill to keep the government open, provide financial aid to farmers and ranchers, and extend the Farm Bill for one year. 

The bill, passed late Friday afternoon, would keep the federal government funded into March.  This was the third version of the bill this week. Advisor Elon Musk and President-elect Trump spiked the first version. The second version that included Musk and Trump’s demands for an expansion of the debt ceiling, failed to get the votes needed to pass. 

The Continuing Resolution includes $20.78 billion in natural disaster aid for ranchers and farmers in both 2023 and 2024. It also allocates $10 billion in economic aid to farmers to offset the dramatic decline in farm income, high supply costs and low commodity prices.   It does not include a provision that would have allowed year-round sales of E-15 blended gasoline.

The bill passed 366-34, with the support of 196 Democrats and 170 Republicans 34 Republicans voted against it, and 29 lawmakers did not vote on it. 

The Senate voted, 85-11, to pass the measure, and the White House said President Biden would sign it into law on Saturday and that government agencies would not shut down.

Following is a breakdown of farm financial aid payments by state:

Alabama, $73,728,032  
Alaska, $222,003  
Arizona, $19,396,275  
Arkansas, $292,020,199  
California, $81,796,253  
Colorado, $169,538,251  
Connecticut, $980,202  
Delaware, $13,176,347  
Florida, $25,191,542  
Georgia, $183,336,864  
Idaho, $67,294,692  
Illinois, $816,843,287 
Indiana, $414,899,138 
Iowa, $873,729,268 
Kansas, $829,500,531 
Kentucky, $136,321,236 
Louisiana, $110,656,377  
Maine, $3,006,622  
Maryland, $38,063,695  
Massachusetts, $610,826  
Michigan, $177,095,949 
Minnesota, $638,254,798 
Mississippi, $154,770,124  
Missouri, $403,558,718 
Montana, $216,671,566  
Nebraska, $655,352,991 
Nevada, $1,389,501  
New Hampshire, $498,881  
New Jersey, $6,682,063  
New Mexico, $37,042,130  
New York, $60,187,626  
North Carolina, $145,297,105  
North Dakota, $632,458,967  
Ohio, $313,687,065 
Oklahoma, $298,780,905  
Oregon, $29,018,090  
Pennsylvania, $64,252,229  
Rhode Island, $46,297  
South Carolina, $54,668,634  
South Dakota, $521,808,653 
Tennessee, $121,850,247 
Texas, $991,910,582  
Utah, $7,639,125  
Vermont, $4,137,360  
Virginia, $50,235,551  
Washington, $80,799,550  
West Virginia, $2,999,341  
Wisconsin, $246,338,186 
Wyoming, $10,575,433