Coronavirus Relief Includes $20 Billion for Agriculture

The Senate is out with its coronavirus relief package, which includes an expected $20 billion for agriculture. The relief package worth $1 trillion released this week by Republican leadership in the Senate, however, falls short, according to Democrats. And, Congress will need to act quickly and reach an agreement to pass a bill before expanded unemployment benefits expire.

The Senate HEALS Act specifically provides $20.45 billion in direct funding to the Office of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, but does not make changes to how the Commodity Credit Corporation can spend money.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, criticized the Senate bill, saying, “They don’t have money for food stamps, but they have money for an FBI building.”

The bill asks for $1.75 billion to rebuild the existing FBI headquarters.

The House passed HEROES Act, a $3 trillion bill, would raise the max SNAP benefit, and prohibit the Trump administration from implementing three proposed rules that would cut benefits and eligibility.

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