Ricketts Fighting for Nebraska Priorities in Comprehensive Farm Bill Reauthorization
November 29, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) commented on the recent temporary Farm Bill extension and highlighted the Nebraska priorities he’s pushing to include in a comprehensive Farm Bill reauthorization. Ricketts made the comments while on a conference call with Nebraska media.
“There are a lot of Nebraska priorities that should be included in a comprehensive Farm Bill,” Ricketts said. “A strong safety net for producers that protects them from natural disasters and volatile markets. Voluntary, working lands-based conservation programs that protect natural resources without restricting property rights. And, of course, trade programs like the Foreign Market Development Program, which returns $24.50 for every dollar invested.”
Specifically, Ricketts has introduced three pieces of bipartisan legislation he is working to include in the next Farm Bill reauthorization: the SNAP Next Step Act, the Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act, and the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act.
“My SNAP Next Step Act would provide services like job search coaching, interview prep, and resume writing to those on SNAP benefits,” Ricketts continued. “We started the SNAP Next Step Program when I was Governor to give people a hand-up, not a hand-out. And we saw great results… My bill would bring that proven Nebraska solution to workers across the country, all at no additional expense to American taxpayers.
“After hearing directly from stakeholders who want to see action on flood solutions in the next Farm Bill, I introduced the Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act,” Ricketts said. “Flooding can cost agriculture, businesses, and rural communities billions of dollars in losses each year. In 2019, we experienced this directly in Nebraska. My bill would cut red tape and help communities not just recover from disasters, but also reduce future damage.”
“Finally, my Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act would extend and enhance the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program,” Ricketts said. “This program supports small businesses by giving rural microentrepreneurs access to capital for startup and development costs. All three of these bipartisan, common-sense bills would be great additions to the next Farm Bill. Most importantly though, I am committed to securing a full, 5-year Farm Bill reauthorization that Nebraska farmers and ranchers can rely on.”
Watch the video HERE
TRANSCRIPT:
Senator Ricketts: “Agriculture is the heart and soul of what we do in Nebraska.
“Our farmers and ranchers feed and fuel the world.
“A strong agriculture sector is critical not just for Nebraska’s economy, but also the country.
“Food security is national security.
“Our farmers and ranchers rely on federal programs like crop insurance to make decisions season-to-season.
“These programs – along with things like conservation, trade promotion and nutrition assistance – make the Farm Bill a crucial and complex piece of legislation.
“Farm Bill programs were set to run out of funds by the end of this year.
“Had it expired, some of these essential programs would have reverted to Depression-era rules that are out of touch with current needs.
“That would have been a disaster.
“I was proud to support a temporary one-year extension of the Farm Bill that avoids a lapse in funding and provides some certainty to producers in 2024.
“But I believe America’s farmers and ranchers deserve the certainty only a full, five-year Farm Bill reauthorization can provide.
“I’m pushing my colleagues to get this done as soon as possible.
“There are a lot of Nebraska priorities that should be included in a comprehensive Farm Bill.
“A strong safety net for producers that protects them from natural disasters and volatile markets.
“Voluntary, working lands-based conservation programs that protect natural resources without restricting property rights.
“And, of course, trade programs like the Foreign Market Development Program, which returns $24.50 for every dollar invested.
“Additionally, I’m fighting for the next Farm Bill to include three bipartisan pieces of legislation I’ve introduced this year.
“My SNAP Next Step Act would provide services like job search coaching, interview prep, and resume writing to those on SNAP benefits.
“We started the SNAP Next Step Program when I was Governor to give people a hand-up, not a hand-out.
“And we saw great results.
“Workers who completed the program saw an average income increase of $2,100 per month or over $25,000 more per year.
“60% of those families no longer needed to rely on SNAP and 40% reduced their need for those SNAP benefits.
“It allowed workers to spend more time with their families and achieve greater financial independence through better, higher-paying jobs.
“My bill would bring that proven Nebraska solution to workers across the country at no additional expense to American taxpayers.
“After hearing directly from stakeholders who want to see action on flood solutions in the next Farm Bill, I introduced the Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act.
“Flooding can cost agriculture, businesses, and rural communities billions of dollars in losses each year.
“In 2019, we experienced this directly in Nebraska.
“My bill would cut red tape and help communities not just recover from disasters, but also reduce future damage.
“Finally, my Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act would extend and enhance the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program.
“This program supports small businesses by giving rural microentrepreneurs access to capital for startup and development costs.
“All three of these bipartisan, common-sense bills would be great additions to the next Farm Bill.
“Most importantly though, I am committed to securing a full, 5-year Farm Bill reauthorization that Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers can rely on.“