Following Ernst’s Pressure, Dems Agree to Support Farmers, Block Bailout for Big Oil

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) has been calling on House Democrats to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) which includes support for farm income stabilization, livestock programs, conservation efforts, and dairy programs. After Congressional leaders announced an agreement on a government funding bill that fully replenishes the CCC, as Congress has done in a bipartisan way for over three decades, Ernst issued the following statement:

 

“Iowa farmers will not be used as political pawns. The Commodity Credit Corporation has routinely been funded, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan way, for many years; and given the challenges facing farm country right now, this is not the year to end that. I’m glad our Democratic friends decided to join me in standing with our farmers and providing these hardworking men and women the certainty they need,” said Senator Ernst. “It’s pretty clear that it would be unlawful for USDA to use this money to bail out oil refineries, but just in case, we’ve also made sure Big Oil can’t skirt the law on this one. The CCC is meant to support our farmers, and it will stay this way.”

 

Background:

Senator Ernst worked with her colleagues on a bipartisan basis to ensure the 2018 Farm Bill included these important programs to help support farmers and producers in Iowa and across the country.

 

Last week, Ernst spoke on the Senate floor to  urge her colleagues to replenish funds for the CCC to support the programs Iowa farmers and producers depend on.

 

On Monday, Ernst called on all of her farm state colleagues to support this effort. She also led the Iowa delegation in  urging Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to ensure funds for the CCC are replenished in the upcoming government funding bill.

 

In May, Ernst  commended the administration for providing direct relief to farmers as a result of the  CARES Act, which included CCC funds that the senator helped bolster.

 

In April, Ernst  called for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide additional funds to the biofuel industry through the CCC and introduced  legislation that would help ensure support is provided to biofuel producers negatively impacted by the pandemic.

 

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