Fedorchak: Political Gridlock Puts Ag Priorities on Hold

North Dakota Representative Julie Fedorchak says the current stalemate puts critical farm policy and government funding at risk. “We got our work done by passing a very nonpartisan, commonsense solution to this, which is stopgap funding in a clean, continuing resolution to allow us to continue our work on 12 separate appropriations bills and to appropriately fund our government.” The shutdown delays unfinished work, including the ‘skinny’ farm bill. “Thank goodness we got the bulk of it, probably 85 percent of the funding, passed in the Working Family Tax Cut Plan,” said Fedorchak. “We included the crop insurance reform, we included the reference price increases, we included ag export assistance, and research.” Important components, such as funding for the Conservation Reserve Program and year-round E-15 remain on the ‘to do’ list. Fedorchak said she hopes lawmakers can move past political theater to avoid a lengthy shutdown.