Mitch McConnell

The farm bill conference committee could have an agreement in place as this week starts.  House Ag Committee Chair Mike Conaway told Politico a couple days after a bout of finger-pointing between conference committee members, that they are “darn close to a deal”.  Senate Ag Chair Pat...

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel calls passing a farm bill a top priority for the lame duck session, but the conference committee must first come to an agreement. Senate Ag Chairman Pat Roberts was hopeful for an agreement Thursday, but said House Ag Committee Chair Mike Conaway refused to come to an agreement, blaming the delay on the Texas Republican...

As expected, the U.S. Senate will not consider the updated NAFTA Agreement, known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, in 2018.   Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Bloomberg News a vote on the updated agreement would not happen until after the New Year, saying “My trade advisers say you can’t possibly do it under the various steps that we have to go through.” However, McCon...

There’s little doubt the Senate will conference a farm bill with the House in September.   The only questions are, 1.) what the final bill will look like? And 2.) will it be finished before current law expires. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell kicked off the week on a positive note, listing key legislative goals, including   “An extension of flood insurance and sending the bipartisan Farm Bi

The Senate early this week showed large support for the farm bill, or at least debate on the bill. The procedural cloture vote Monday passed easily, 89-3. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the chamber has the opportunity to finalize this bill this week...

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set the process in motion for considering the farm bill on the Senate floor.  On Monday evening the Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on the motion to proceed to the farm bill legislation, which will likely pave the way for debate.   ...

An amendment to the Senate Farm Bill that recently passed out of the Ag Committee contains an amendment that would remove hemp from the federal definition of marijuana.  The amendment, sponsored by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, would free up hemp farmers to receive federal crop insurance under the 2018 farm bill.   “...

On Wednesday, a group of Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan calling for changes to Section 199A in the tax code.  The group of more than 80 lawmakers says the changes will restore the competitive balance in the agricultural marketplace.   ...

Senate leaders reached an agreement Monday to end the government shutdown, passing a bill to fund the government until February 8th.  Minority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to end a filibuster on the spending bill, in exchange for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s word that the Senate will begin debating immigration by the day the short-term spending bill expires.   The Se...

The Senate GOP tax bill cleared a major procedural hurdle on an expected party-line vote Wednesday, starting the clock on a lengthy debate that could last ‘until the end of the week or longer.  Republicans fell into line behind their leadership and voted to take up the controversial GOP tax reform bill that boosts several ag-related breaks, including those for small businesses and estates.  Democr