As the Sept. 30 farm bill deadline for reauthorizing comes near, lobbyists have taken over Capitol Hill.
Lobbyists Have Taken Over Capitol Hill As Farm Bill Deadline Comes Near (Photo: Borgen magazine)
Farm Bill Deadline: Congress Must Reauthorize The Federal Agricultural And Food Programs Every Five Years
According to POLITICO, federal agricultural and food programs are governed by the comprehensive law, which Congress must reauthorize every five years. This year, more than 70 companies and groups have hired new lobbying firms to concentrate on farm bill-related problems.
One of the most recent companies to bring on K Street help, and hire Resolution Public Affairs is beer giant Molson Coors, a company founded by Heather McHugh, a well-known former aide to Sen. Chuck Schumer.
The National Confectioners Association, which is hosting a fly-in this week, is one of many organizations with members traveling to Washington. 100 candy executives are attending the event, and they have 70 meetings booked with House and Senate offices.
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Farm Bill Deadline: Meetings On Capitol Hill And Activities To Court Policymakers
Over the past week, organizations like the National Pork Producers Council, the National Farmers Union, and the International Fresh Produce Association held fly-ins that included meetings on Capitol Hill and activities to court policymakers like Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.).
T.A. Hawks, a partner at Monument Advocacy and a former staff director for the Senate Agriculture Committee, said, “With the farm bill expiration on the horizon, everyone who cares about that legislation and potentially making changes to it has been engaging on Capitol Hill and in the administration to advocate for their priorities.”
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