Ag relief in COVID proposal

A bipartisan group of senators and a group known as the Problem Solvers Caucus have been negotiating a $908 billion coronavirus relief package. Details have been released indicating that the proposal includes a combined $26 billion dollars for agriculture and nutrition.

The summary of the proposal indicates that the bill would call for $13 billion allocated to provide funding to farmers, ranchers, growers and rural communities impacted by the pandemic. Although an amount is not specified, the summary says there will be USDA Rural Development funds for water and wastewater programs.  In addition, $600 million would be earmarked for fishery and disaster relief.

On a broader level, the proposal says that $26 billion would be provided for agriculture and nutrition. This would temporarily boost the individual monthly SNAP funding by 15% for four months and provide funding for the Emergency Food Assistant Program that assists food banks and food pantries.  The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children program would also see a boost.

The proposal comes following on-again, off-again negotiations of both parties, both chambers of Congress, the U.S. Treasury Department and the White House.