Here's What Congress Did Not Finish for Agriculture Before Going Home for Extended Recess
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives took a nearly seven-week break from session as Fall harvest approached. The break for the U.S. Senate looks to last about five weeks.
The decisions by the Republican leaders of both chambers to send members home for an extended break means that a number of agricultural priorities have no chance to earn necessary passage before the mid-term elections and voters weigh in on whether incumbent members of Congress who are on the ballot deserve to get rehired for another term.
This is some of the unfinished legislation that at least some people in agriculture hoped to become law by now:
What Happened to Year-Round Sales of E15?
The U.S. House passed a resolution in May that would amend the Clean Air Act, which would provide the necessary ethanol waiver to allow retailers to sell the 15%-blended fuel across the county all year, increasing the currently permitted 10% ethanol blend.
The Clean Air Act currently restricts summer E15 sales (June 1-September 15) due to previous concerns that burning higher ethanol blends in hot weather could increase smog and pollution.
Some environmental groups and mid-sized refineries have opposed year-round E15, and supporters of the E15 legislation in the U.S. Senate have failed to find the needed 60 votes to pass the measure through the chamber.
Is Fuel Price Relief on the Way?
Two wars that President Donald Trump claimed earlier that he would end continue and have driven diesel prices to record levels.
Russia/Ukraine war: Ukraine recently used drone attacks to damage Russian oil facilities, which reduced Russia’s diesel exports.
U.S./Israeli war against Iran: Tankers have faced difficulties traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, which blocks part of the world’s daily oil supply.
Both conflicts have contributed to lower global inventories of diesel and heating oils.
Some people have pushed Congress to temporarily suspend the federal tax on highway diesel fuel of 24.4 cents per gallon. The tax revenue supports the federal Highway Trust Fund and Leaking Underground Storage Trust Fund, so reducing it would also lessen funding for those two areas.
But Congress has not acted on the diesel gas suspension.
The U.S. House passed a bipartisan bill, mostly Democrats, to force the President to end the war with Iran, but the Senate did not take up the war powers resolution.
RELATED: The pressures that some agricultural producers and landowners face highlights the importance of crop insurance. Kyle Jore explained to American Farmland Owner what could be ahead.
What's the Status of the Farm Bill and Farm Aid?
Congress’ inability to agree on a new Farm Bill has stretched into 2026. The two chambers last agreed on a new five-year Farm Bill in 2018. Continued disagreements over policy, food assistance and total spending have yet again divided members.
Democrats insist that the Republican majority restore $186 billion in food assistance cuts that they made in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The latest Senate version of a Farm Bill also does not include the “Save Our Bacon Act.” That federal proposal would essentially overrule state-led requirements like California’s Prop 12 that ban the sale of pork, chicken and veal products that come from farming operations that don’t adhere to a minimum amount of space for the animals.
Congress has also discussed another emergency aid package for farmers, possibly $11 billion, to help with continued struggles. But, like the Farm Bill, members left for extended break without taking final action.
RELATED: Congress has not passed the BEEF Act, which halts President Trump’s actions to bring in additional cheaper beef from Argentina and Brazil. American cattle ranchers oppose his action. Here’s how the legislation would work.
