Editor’s note: This weekly update from the government relations office at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) provides the latest on what’s happening in Washington and how AACC is advancing policies to support community colleges and students. Send questions, feedback and more to: kgimborys@aacc.nche.edu.
- House Agriculture Committee approves their Farm Bill proposal
- House Appropriations Committee approves subcommittee allocations for FY 25
House Agriculture Committee approves their Farm Bill proposal
On Friday, the House Agriculture Committee completed a 13-hour markup of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 – House Republicans’ proposal to reauthorize the Farm Bill – and approved the bill out of committee. Four Democrats joined committee Republicans in support of the bill.
As a reminder, the Farm Bill is the governing legislation for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, including nutrition programs, agriculture research programs and rural development initiatives. Last reauthorized in 2018, the current Farm Bill – the Agriculture Improvement Act – was set to expire in 2023 but received a one-year extension. Lawmakers are now working to deliver a 2024 Farm Bill before the end of the 118th Congress.
As covered in the Community College Daily, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act includes many proposals that drew support from both Republicans and Democrats on the committee, but many Democratic members strongly opposed restricting changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) Thrifty Food Plan and other measures. For community colleges, the bill includes new grants for community college agriculture programs, inspired by the Community College Agricultural Advancement Act. The bill also includes a new earnings disregard for SNAP participants in Employment and Training (E&T) subsidized work-based learning programs, many of which are offered by community colleges.
It is not yet clear when or if the Farm, Food, and National Security Act will be brought to the House floor for a vote. AACC will continue monitoring its progress in the House of Representatives and opportunities to protect and advance community college priorities during negotiations with the Senate. John Boozman (R-Arkansas), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, has indicated that Senate Republicans are getting ready to release their Farm Bill reauthorization proposal. The chair of the committee, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), unveiled her proposal, the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, earlier in May.
House Appropriations Committee approves subcommittee allocations for FY 25
Last week, the House Appropriations Committee approved subcommittee allocations for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 25) appropriations. Called 302(b) allocations, these figures represent the total funding allowance for each of the dozen appropriations bills. The allocations were adopted in a party-line vote of 30 to 22. The allocation for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies (LHHS) – the appropriations bill that covers most programs impacting community colleges – is set to be $186 billion. Without additional offsets, this could result in at least an 11 percent cut compared to FY 24 levels.