American Rescue Plan Expected to Clear House

The much-anticipated $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan is expected to recieve a narrow final approval in the House Wednesday, after the Senate OKed a revised version, last weekend. The bill contains billions more for Ag and food programs. Combined food and Ag provisions in the bill total nearly $23 billion, including more than $10 billion to strengthen the Ag and food supply chain.

“There’s approximately $4 billion to provide debt forgiveness for socially disadvantaged farmers," said American Farm Bureau Federation Chief Economist John Newton. "There’s also another billion dollars to provide outreach and support for socially disadvantaged farmers and increase land ownership for those farmers and ranchers. And then, there’s also nearly $4 billion for food supply chain and pandemic response planning.”

That’s intended for food box-type assistance as well as help slow the spread of COVID-19 cases among agricultural workers.

“The $4 billion for food supply chain and pandemic response includes $300 million for animal surveillance. " Newton noted. "So, there are certain animal species like cats and minks that are known to carry the variant that causes COVID-19 in humans. And then, over time, inspection cost-reduction is another hundred-million.”

Another big piece Newton noted, $800 million for Food for Peace, as well as another $500 million for rural healthcare grants.

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