News: More than half of the House Republican Conference has penned a letter to their own leadership, urging them to put the GOP’s farm bill on the floor during the upcoming lame-duck session.
The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 passed out of the House Agriculture Committee in May with all Republicans and four Democrats voting yes. But House GOP leadership has slow-walked the legislation to the floor due to concerns about flagging support from Democrats and Republicans.
The letter has high-profile House GOP supporters, including Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (Pa.), Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (Texas), Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (Ky.), Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (Ark.), Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul (Texas) and Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (Okla.).
The letter was led by Republican Reps. Mark Alford (Mo.), Ashley Hinson (Iowa), Mary Miller (Ill.) and Jen Kiggans (Va.).
The GOP lawmakers urge Speaker Mike Johnson to consider the farm bill a “must-pass” bill in the lame duck.
House Republican leadership has told us they are likely to pass a short-term extension of the current farm bill in the lame duck.
Also news: The DCCC is adding Whitney Fox, April McClain Delaney and John Avlon to its Red-to-Blue program for top House Democratic challengers.
Fox is running against Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) in Florida’s 13th District. Luna has staked out some position to the far right of the House GOP this Congress. Delaney is running to succeed Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) in the 6th District race that could get competitive thanks to former Gov. Larry Hogan’s Senate campaign. Avlon is challenging Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) in the 1st District, which got redder in redistricting.
— Jake Sherman and Max Cohen
