Latest news with #MarkAlford
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rep. Alford: Farmer loan program is reverse discrimination
(NewsNation) — A whistleblower recently told NewsNation that a Biden-era loan forgiveness program meant to help farmers was only provided to minorities, and passed over anyone who was white. The whistleblower from the U.S. Department of Agriculture pointed to Section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided loan relief for socially disadvantaged farmers. It provided race-based loan forgiveness, granted only to those who qualified as socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. White farmers from across the country later sued in federal court and alleged that the act was race-based and violated the equal protection clause under the Constitution. The judge in that case later found the loan forgiveness program was 'an actual constitutional harm.' CDC told health providers not to treat after East Palestine derailment: Lawsuit GOP Rep. Mark Alford from Missouri joined NewsNation's 'Elizabeth Vargas Reports' to talk about the loan program. He said it was not right, and equal weights and measures are needed when providing help for all farmers. 'The USDA needs to get back in the business of helping farmers,' Alford said. 'Our farmers are going out of business. We are losing 1,000 farms a month, and our food security is national security.' Alford added the program is 'highly illegal,' and called it reverse discrimination. He also said he would be working to find out if farmers in his district were affected by the Biden administration's program. 'This is ridiculous, farmers are hardworking people and they sacrifice so much to grow corn and soybeans in my district,' Alford said. 'We should not be withholding aid simply because of their skin color.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cuts to food aid endorsed by Congressional GOP could cost Missouri $400 million
Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Alford from Missouri said the bill 'strengthens and restores the integrity' of SNAP in order to 'ensure it is a temporary life vest for the needy — not a lifestyle'(Getty Images). Missouri could lose around $400 million in federal funding for food assistance under a plan approved by Congressional Republicans Thursday — which would strain the state budget and likely strip thousands of low-income families of food aid across the state. Those cost-shifts could put pressure on the legislature to slash the state's SNAP program or fill in the federal funding gaps by cutting other state services. Roughly one-tenth of Missouri's population, or over 650,000 people, receive SNAP benefits. 'This is about parents not eating so their kids can, or children going to school hungry,' said Amy Blouin, president and CEO of the progressive think tank Missouri Budget Project. Another provision in the bill that cleared the U.S. House would create stricter work reporting requirements for SNAP, which could cut or reduce benefits for 150,000 Missourians, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates. 'This bill would raise costs on families and make it harder for Missourians of all ages to meet their basic needs,' said Blouin. The legislation aims to extend President Donald Trump's 2017 tax cuts, a move the Congressional Budget Office projected would decrease resources for low-income families while increasing resources for top earners. The package passed in the House early Thursday could cut $267 billion from SNAP over 10 years, according to the CBO's preliminary analysis earlier this week. It would also cut over $600 billion from Medicaid. Under the proposal passed by the House, SNAP costs would be shifted to the states starting in 2028. The federal government currently covers 100% of SNAP benefits and 50% of the administrative costs. Under the proposal, states would need to cover between 5% and 25% of benefits and 75% of administration. The share of costs the federal government shifts to states would hinge on states' error rates, meaning the rate at which states over or underpay benefits recipients. States would need to pay a greater portion of the benefits depending on how high their error rate is. In 2023, the most recent data available, Missouri's error rate was 10%, which would mean the highest cost share. Missouri would need to cover 25% of the cost of benefits. A Department of Social Services spokesperson said more recent data isn't available. Missouri's Republican House delegation voted for the bill and Democrats voted against it. Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Alford said the bill 'strengthens and restores the integrity' of SNAP in order to 'ensure it is a temporary life vest for the needy — not a lifestyle.' Democratic U.S. Rep Emanuel Cleaver said the bill amounts to ' ripping health care and food assistance away from vulnerable families, to give another tax break that lines the pockets of billionaires.' Several parts of the package are expected to change in the Senate and come back to the House for a final vote in the coming months. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Fox News
14-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
House Republicans take step closer to banning congressional stock trading
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., will introduce legislation that would ban congressional stock trading on Wednesday, serving as the House companion bill to Sen. Josh Hawley's, R-Mo., "PELOSI Act" in the Senate. Alford's proposed bill would ban lawmakers and their spouses from holding, purchasing, or selling individual stocks while in office, but it allows investments in diversified mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or U.S. Treasury bonds. If passed, current lawmakers would have 180 days to comply with the legislation. Likewise, newly elected lawmakers must achieve compliance within 180 days of entering office. "As public servants, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard and avoid the mere appearance of corruption," Alford said in a statement. "Unfortunately, too many members of Congress are engaging in suspicious stock trades based on non-public information to enrich themselves." "These gross violations of the public trust make clear: we must finally take action to ban members and their spouses from owning or selling individual stocks," he added. Under the proposed legislation, lawmakers who continue to make wrongful transactions would be required to hand over any profits they made to the U.S. Treasury Department. The House or Senate ethics committees could also impose a fine on such lawmakers amounting to 10% of each wrongful transaction. President Donald Trump himself endorsed banning trading for members of Congress in an interview with Time Magazine last month. "I watched Nancy Pelosi get rich through insider information, and I would be okay with it. If they send that to me, I would do it," he said of a trading ban. "You'll sign it?" the reporter pressed. "Absolutely," Trump responded. Democrats in the House of Representatives have also expressed support for a ban, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries throwing his weight behind the proposal last week.
CNN
25-02-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Crowd clashes with congressman over DOGE layoffs
Frustrated constituents confronted GOP Rep. Mark Alford at a tense town hall in Belton, Missouri, over federal layoffs and spending cuts as part of Elon Musk's efforts to reshape the US government under President Donald Trump.
CNN
25-02-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Crowd clashes with congressman over DOGE layoffs
Frustrated constituents confronted GOP Rep. Mark Alford at a tense town hall in Belton, Missouri, over federal layoffs and spending cuts as part of Elon Musk's efforts to reshape the US government under President Donald Trump.
