With Congress returning for the Lame Duck session, all eyes will be on the Farm Bill and funding for the federal government, currently set to run out on December 7. With the House changing hands to the Democrats in January, Republicans will be aggressively pursuing passage of legislation by the time the 115th Congress adjourns in December.
The Farm Bill, which is currently in conference between House and Senate, would reauthorize programs within the U.S. Department of Agriculture for five years. Republicans and Democrats negotiated for months to come to agreement on legislation, although some controversial measures affecting nutrition programs and some conservation programs remain sticking points.
For NGWA members, the legislation provides important authorization levels for key programs that fund rural infrastructure, like the Household Water Well Loan and Grant program. Several conservation programs that incentivize farmers to better conserve and protect water used for irrigation would also be reauthorized.
The other major sticking point in the lame duck session will be funding for the federal government, which is currently scheduled to run out on December 7. President Donald J. Trump said he will not sign legislation that does not contain full support for construction of a border wall, which could imperil funding for other federal agencies because spending bills are rarely passed individually.