WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statements after voting for the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. This continuing resolution (CR), which passed the Senate by a vote of 87 to 11, extends funding in the Agriculture, Energy and Water, Military-Construction/Veterans, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriation bills until January 19, 2024 and extends the remaining funding through February 4, 2024.
“Passing this continuing resolution gives Congress more time to work through regular order and pass legislation all members had a role in debating and amending, instead of being jammed with a massive, partisan omnibus crafted by only a few. Congress should have finished these bills months ago, but I remain committed to doing the hard work needed to get the job done.”
Additionally, the continuing resolution extends the 2018-passed Farm Bill through September 30, 2024. This extension maintains existing policy and prevents a reversion to permanent law under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and the Agricultural Act of 1949.
By preventing a reversion to permanent law, Congress protected critical commodity programs which provide financial support to producers in the event of price or revenue declines, extended trade facilitation programs designed to expand markets for American crops, and continued providing specialty crop block grants to state departments of agriculture.
“The Farm Bill is an essential piece of legislation for North Dakota. 90 percent of our state’s land is dedicated to farming and ranching, and we lead the nation in the production of a dozen commodities. I am dedicated to the passage of a comprehensive farm bill reauthorization, but this one-year extension is much better than a lapse in programs. The committee now has more time and room to negotiate a complete farm bill, benefitting all of North Dakota’s agriculture community.”
