Articles by Derrick Cain

While farm bill issues continue to percolate, Congress is set this week to take on issues related to the budget, domestic violence, and possible misconduct from a senator.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2013 – A long-term farm bill faces a “still unknown future” after the elections left the congressional balance of power largely intact as well as most of the leading lawmakers behind the legislative effort, according to Scott DeFife, executive vice president of policy and govern

The Senate is expected to begin consideration Monday of legislation (H.R. 152) that would provide the Agriculture Department with $222.4 million for disaster assistance to help states deal with the impacts of Hurricane Sandy.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2013 – A bipartisan group of 53 senators sent a letter today to President Obama urging him to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline – a day after Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman gave approval of a revised route through his state.

The week is set to kick off with an inaugural bang as lawmakers - at least Democrats – celebrate the second swearing-in of President Obama on Monday.

WASINGTON, Jan. 16 – The Agriculture Department’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced today several enforcement actions involving fraudulent use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The House approved legislation (H.R. 8) late tonight designed to avert the “fiscal cliff” and extend the farm bill until September 2013, sending it to President Obama for his expected signature.

The Senate today rejected an amendment to the Hurricane Sandy disaster aid package (H.R. 1) that aimed to reimburse ranchers, fruit growers, and farmers affected this year by wildfires and drought.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, member and former chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, confirmed today that there will no further congressional action on the 2012 farm bill this year, nor will there be movement on a tentative one-year extension or on expiring dairy provis

Even as the chances of a farm bill clearing Congress by the end of the year continued to fade, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) urged the House today to take up and approve a five-year farm bill in the short remaining congressional time.