![]() In addition to Lucas, EWG reported in March that seven other current members of Congress who sit on the House Agriculture Committee have received farm subsidies between 19: Reps. But it also directs billions of dollars to other programs, including ones that help farmers conserve resources, fight climate change or cope with disasters or falling commodity prices. More than 80 percent of the bill’s spending is delegated to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a food assistance program that helps millions of low-income Americans. ![]() The farm bill is a massive piece of legislation, costing more than $1 trillion, that Congress uses to fund agricultural programs. Democrats also accused some of their GOP colleagues of hypocrisy for voting against the initial federal funding for the loans but receiving PPP loans for their own businesses. “That’s different than, ‘I have knowledge because I’m a member of Congress, I buy the stock today, it goes up tomorrow, I’ve made money that you couldn’t make.’”Ī number of lawmakers did draw scrutiny for receiving PPP loans, which raised concerns about conflicts of interest as Congress crafted subsequent Covid-19 relief packages. “I do think that’s probably in the question of, ‘if members of Congress are voting on PPP, and they have small businesses, should they be taking PPP?’” Spanberger said. Abigail Spanberger said differences exist between lawmakers using confidential information to boost investment payouts and lawmakers participating in farm subsidy programs. The Virginia centrist equated it, instead, to members of Congress taking Paycheck Protection Program loans, a Covid-era loan program meant to stave off layoffs and small business closures. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who sponsored 2022 legislation to ban stock trading among members of Congress, said differences exist between lawmakers using confidential information to boost investment payouts and lawmakers participating in farm subsidy programs. “It raises the obvious question of whether the farmer-lawmakers are using their inside connections for more favorable treatment, or have passed legislation that favors their own class of farmers,” said Craig Holman, a Capitol Hill lobbyist for the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen.īut Agriculture Committee member Democratic Rep. At the very least, government watchdogs agreed lawmakers’ farm subsidies deserve more scrutiny, particularly as they make policy decisions this year that could ultimately benefit their own ag businesses. Lawmakers and government ethics experts were divided on whether the practice poses a problem - a lack of consensus that reflects just how murky conflict of interest standards remain on Capitol Hill, despite a series of scandals in recent years. Lucas has received more than $100,000 in federal subsidies over the past 20 years, EWG wrote in a report updated in March. “But once you give up your farm, it might never be possible to restart.” “It’s one thing to turn off your professional business, another to be able to turn it back on,” he said. He added that unlike lawmakers who come from other occupations, farmers can’t easily put their businesses on ice while they serve in Washington. “Since the 1930s, members of Congress have been able to participate in farm programs,” Lucas said. He pointed to the history of the practice as well as the realities of farming. You basically benefit every time we make more bombs.”īut former Chair Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), who still serves on the agricultural panel, defended the subsidies he has received for the wheat farm and cattle ranch he runs with his wife. “Same thing about owning stock while you’re voting for wars. It’s ridiculous,” Michigan Democratic Rep. The group wants to stop federal farm subsidies intended for farmers from flowing to lawmakers. It’s based mostly in nostalgia and not in economic reality.” “There’s this myth that farmers face risks that are different from barbers and restaurant owners. “We don’t treat any other industries like agriculture,” said Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, a left-leaning advocacy group that tracks Agriculture Committee members’ farm subsidies.
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