Latest news with #NikkiBudzinski
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Every stone here is a story': Fallen veterans honored at Camp Butler during Memorial Day ceremony
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A crowd from all walks of life gathered at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Sangamon County as officials laid a wreath for members of the military who lost their lives. More than 20,000 veterans from the Civil War to Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and their family members are buried at Camp Butler. Annual Memorial Day ceremony held in Danville The special guests at the ceremony were U.S. Representatives Mary Miller and Nikki Budzinski. They paid tribute to the more than 60,000 Illinoisans who have died defending the nation since the civil war. 'May we never forget that freedom is never free,' Miller said. 'And may we live our lives in a way that honors the sacrifice that has been given.' Budzinski spoke about how the day is special to her, as she's the granddaughter of two World War II veterans. 'I come from a family of those that have served and with that comes a great appreciation and a debt of gratitude to the veterans that have served,' she said. 'And their service has come to protect our freedoms and our liberties that we enjoy each and every day in the country.' Champaign's Grandview Cemetery gets flag makeover for Memorial Day Cemetery director Jimmy Allen said the focus of the day should be to remember more than the names. 'It's so much more than a cemetery with headstones,' the director said. 'It's a tapestry of time within our nation and all our different turning points and conflicts.' He challenged attendees to reflect on their connections to fallen veterans. 'Because remembrance is not passive, it is something we choose,' Allen said at the ceremony. 'And in choosing to remember, we carry these stories forward.' Camp Butler officials encourage everyone to learn more about veterans buried in national cemeteries using the Veterans Legacy Memorial. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Farm Bill passes House committee with $300B SNAP cuts. What it means for 3 million Texans
A sweeping Farm Bill that includes $300 billion in cuts to food assistance programs has cleared the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, raising concerns for millions of Texans who rely on these benefits to put food on the table. Traditionally bipartisan, the Farm Bill has become a point of sharp political contention, primarily over funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). House Republicans are pushing to reduce SNAP funding by up to $300 billion over the next decade, citing fiscal responsibility and a desire to shift resources toward other agricultural priorities. Democrats oppose the cuts, warning they would deepen food insecurity, especially in rural communities where SNAP is widely used. Last year, the Farm Bill reached this same stage but stalled in Congress due to political divisions over proposed SNAP cuts, then at a significantly lower amount of $30 billion. Since then, changes in congressional leadership have increased that figure tenfold, intensifying the partisan divide. These disagreements prevented the bill from advancing, leading lawmakers to abandon the effort and extend the 2018 Farm Bill for another year as elections approached and political sensitivities around food assistance grew. Originally set to expire in 2023, the Farm Bill — typically renewed every five years — has since been extended twice, with the current extension set to expire on Sept. 30, 2025. The House Agriculture Committee voted 29-25 along party lines to advance legislation that would cut up to $300 billion in food aid spending to help fund Republicans' domestic policy megabill and some farm programs. The vote sends the measure to the House Budget Committee for further consideration before a full House floor vote. If passed, the GOP proposal would create the largest overhaul in decades to SNAP, which helps more than 42 million Americans afford food, by requiring states to share the cost of SNAP benefits. The ongoing standoff over SNAP funding remains the main obstacle to passing a new Farm Bill, placing vital programs for both farmers and low-income families at risk. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Illinois) told Brownfield Ag News late last month that many Democrats voted against last year's Farm Bill draft because of the potential cuts, which were far less. With that number now increasing significantly, it is unclear whether this draft will advance further or if the bill will become gridlocked again. With Republicans now controlling the House, Senate, and the presidency, the new Farm Bill is expected to reflect more conservative priorities, including a focus on fiscal responsibility, spending reductions and shifts in resource allocation. SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal program that helps low-income Americans buy food. More than 42 million people across the United States receive SNAP benefits, including approximately 3.5 million Texans, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. In Texas, over $600 million in benefits are loaded each month onto Lone Star cards for families in need. Benefit amounts vary by household size. According to the USDA, the maximum monthly SNAP benefits are: 1 person: $292 2 people: $536 3 people: $768 4 people: $975 5 people: $1,158 6 people: $1,390 7 people: $1,536 8 people: $1,756 Each additional person: $220 Only two Texans currently serve on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee: Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-13), who represents the Amarillo area, and Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-15), whose district includes McAllen. Both were appointed to the committee for the 118th Congress, which began in January 2023. The committee's recent 29-25 vote on the Farm Bill was a strict party-line split, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed. This means both Texas lawmakers supported the SNAP cuts included in the legislation. De La Cruz has been particularly outspoken in her support for the Farm Bill and its proposed changes. While she acknowledges that approximately 25% of her district's population relies on SNAP benefits, she has raised concerns about what she sees as excessive allocations and potential abuse within the program. 'I want to be very clear: I support SNAP and the benefits that SNAP gives to families who are in a time of need," she said in a hearing last month. "Many South Texans really need and rely on this critical program for their family and for feeding their family. I take it personal when I hear tactics and fear mongering and rhetoric from the other side of the aisle because you're talking about my people. You're talking about people that I live with and in my community." At the same time, De La Cruz criticized the Democratic Party's portrayal of the Republican effort to cut SNAP funding, describing it as exaggerated and misleading. She argued that, what she described as 'fear tactics,' unfairly paint Republicans as unsympathetic to struggling families, when in her view, the intent is to protect the program's long-term viability by addressing fraud and abuse. 'We need to stop the rhetoric and really the fear tactics when it comes to talking about SNAP and the work we're trying to do in this committee which is to truly give those people who are most in need the benefit that they need," De La Cruz said. "No American should go home and should sleep hungry. Period.' "It's important that we protect this program because it's feeding people in my community. That being said, we must cut out the fraud and abuse to ensure those that rightfully need this program is in place not for today but for tomorrow," she added. However, not everyone agrees with De La Cruz's framing of the issue. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) sharply criticized her vote, accusing her of siding with wealthy interests at the expense of vulnerable Texans. 'While Monica De La Cruz pretends to care about working Texas families and farmers, the only people she's really fighting for are the wealthy benefactors of Republican's tax cuts for billionaires," said DCCC Spokesperson Madison Andrus after last week's vote. "This bill will rip food off the tables of her district's most vulnerable children and take money directly out of farmers' pockets – De La Cruz's vote is a direct betrayal of the very people she vowed to protect and Texas' 15th won't forget it.' The proposed Farm Bill includes several key changes aimed at supporting farmers and agricultural producers. Price Loss Coverage (PLC) reference prices increased by 10% to 20%: PLC is a safety net program that helps farmers when market prices for certain crops fall below a set reference price. Raising these reference prices means farmers could receive higher payments to cover losses if crop prices drop. Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) guarantee raised to 90%: ARC provides revenue support if a farmer's crop income falls below a certain percentage of their historical average. Increasing the guarantee to 90% means farmers will be protected against a greater share of income loss during bad crop years. Expansion of eligible base acres by 30 million acres: Base acres are the land areas used to calculate subsidy payments. Expanding eligible acres allows more farmland to qualify for support payments, potentially increasing the number of acres that farmers can receive assistance for. Payment limit increase from $125,000 to $155,000, indexed to inflation: Farm subsidy payments to individual producers are capped to prevent excessive payouts. Raising the limit allows farmers to receive higher payments, with the cap adjusted over time to keep up with inflation. Crop insurance support — Increasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) premium subsidies from 65% to 80%: SCO is a type of crop insurance that helps cover losses beyond standard policies. Increasing premium subsidies means farmers pay less out of pocket for this insurance, making it more affordable to protect their crops. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding rises from $2.66 billion in fiscal year 2026 to $3.26 billion by fiscal year 2031. EQIP helps farmers implement conservation practices like soil health and water quality improvements. Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) funding increases from $1.3 billion in 2026 to $1.38 billion in 2031. CSP rewards farmers who maintain high environmental stewardship on their land. Members of Congress who sit on the Senate and House Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry are primarily responsible for drafting farm bills. The Farm Bill is a $1.5 trillion program that consists of a lot more than just crops and livestock. In fact, it impacts everyone in one way or another, whether through school lunch and government assistance or support of natural resources, such as our forests. The legislation is broken into 12 sections, or titles. Each title addresses different aspects of agriculture and related sectors. Here's a summary of each title: Commodities: Covers price and income support for farmers producing non-perishable crops, dairy and sugar, along with agricultural disaster assistance. Conservation: Includes programs for natural resource conservation on working lands and land retirement and easement programs. Trade: Covers food export subsidy programs and international food aid. Nutrition: Encompasses SNAP and other nutrition programs to assist low-income Americans, as well as school lunches. Credit: Focuses on federal loan programs to help farmers access financial credit. Rural development: Supports rural economic growth through business and community development, rural housing and infrastructure. Research, extension, and related matters: Funds farm and food research, education and extension programs. Forestry: Addresses forest-specific conservation programs. Energy: Encourages biofuel production, renewable energy installation and energy-related research. Horticulture: Includes farmers market programs, research funding for horticultural crops and organic farming initiatives. Crop Insurance: Provides subsidies for crop insurance premiums and supports the development of insurance policies. Miscellaneous: Covers various advocacy and outreach areas such as support for beginning, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers, agricultural labor safety, workforce development and livestock health. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Farm Bill advances with cuts to food stamps. How many Texans use SNAP?
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Budzinski reacts to SNAP cuts approved by Agriculture Committee
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Cuts could be coming to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP. The cuts were voted on by the Agriculture Committee in the U.S. House Wednesday evening. The bill will move on to a full vote by the House of Representatives. Over 13% of Central Illinoisans are food insecure: EIF, Feeding America Supporters of the cuts said that SNAP has ballooned in cost. Some changes the legislation would make includes: Requiring states to shoulder a share of the benefit costs beginning in FY2028 Blocks future increases to the cost of Future Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) Increases the work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents from 54 to 64 Ends SNAP-Ed (an educational program that helps people stretch out their SNAP money, cook healthy meals, and lead active lifestyles) Requires that to be eligible for SNAP, an individual must be a U.S. Citizen or green card holder Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) spoke out against the cuts during the budget reconciliation bill in the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday evening. She said the the $313 billion in SNAP cuts would impact families in need, as well as farmers and the food supply chain. 'This will take away food for SNAP households that are home to a child, an old adult or a disabled adult,' Budzinski said. 'And for what? To pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest people in this country.' You can find the full text of the budget resolution here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Budzinski introduces bipartisan biofuel bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WCIA) — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) has introduced a bill to help support innovation in biofuels. The Central Illinois U.S. Representative introduced the Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act to help the biofuel economy. She's co-sponsoring the bill with Congressman Zach Nunn (R-IA). 'My district is home to world-class research facilities like the University of Illinois Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab and SIUE's National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Centerboth at the forefront of biomanufacturing innovation,' Congresswoman Budzinski said in a statement. 'I'm honored to partner with my colleague Zach Nunn on bipartisan legislation that supports the groundbreaking agricultural research led by students and scientists at these institutions. Strengthening Americas bioeconomy drives innovation, creates good-paying jobs, and opens new opportunities for family farms across the Midwest.' Illinois' film industry bounces back after 2023 strikes The bill strengthens the USDA's Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program by updating the current loan guarantee program to include applications year-round. It also creates a new competitive grant program to help build and expand biorefineries. If signed into law, it would also provide $100 million in mandatory funding through FY 2030. Several industry leaders support the bill, including Plant Based Products Council, Corn Refiners Association and the Ag Bioeconomy Coalition. The full text of the AG BIO Act can be found here online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Farm Bill delayed, years after deadline, as Congress debates $230B SNAP cuts. What's next?
The clock is ticking once again as the extended 2018 Farm Bill approaches its latest deadline. Originally set to expire in 2023, the bill — typically renewed every five years — has been extended twice, with the current extension set to end on Sept. 30, 2025. Now, with less than five months remaining, the traditionally bipartisan legislation remains gridlocked. The Farm Bill has become a point of contention due to sharp political divisions, primarily over funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). House Republicans are pushing to reduce SNAP funding by up to $230 billion over the next decade, citing fiscal responsibility and a desire to shift resources to other agricultural priorities. Democrats oppose the cuts, warning they would deepen food insecurity, especially in rural communities where SNAP is widely used. The standoff over SNAP has become the main obstacle to passing a new Farm Bill, placing vital programs for both farmers and low-income families at risk. This debate follows last year's stalled negotiations, when proposed cuts to SNAP totaled around $30 billion. Since then, changes in congressional leadership have driven that figure more than sevenfold, intensifying the partisan divide. 'A lot of us voted against a Farm Bill last year because there were $30 billion in cuts to SNAP,' Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Illinois) told Brownfield Ag News. 'Now we're talking about $230 billion worth of cuts to SNAP over 10 years. These are drastic cuts to people who are working, who are struggling to put food on the table for their kids.' Budzinski also emphasized to Brownfield that the economic impact of SNAP extends beyond its recipients. 'A dollar of SNAP benefits generates about $1.50 in economic return,' she said. 'And who benefits from that? Our growers — the folks growing the food in our communities, helping provide the products people are purchasing with their SNAP benefits. So, this will also impact our farmers.' In previous discussions, Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson, a Republican from Pennsylvania and the chairman of the House committee, has emphasized his goal of avoiding cuts to benefits. However, during a hearing last month, he and other Republicans highlighted the need to strengthen the program's work requirements. 'We must preserve benefits for those who truly need them, but also ensure that SNAP helps guide participants toward independence and self-sufficiency,' Thompson said. In Texas, more than 3.4 million people rely on SNAP benefits to help support their livelihoods. Members of Congress who sit on the Senate and House Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry are primarily responsible for drafting farm bills. The Farm Bill is a $1.5 trillion program that consists of a lot more than just crops and livestock. In fact, it impacts everyone in one way or the other, whether through school lunch and government assistance or support of natural resources, such as our forests. The legislation is broken into 12 sections, or titles. Each title addresses different aspects of agriculture and related sectors. Here's a summary of each title: Commodities: Covers price and income support for farmers producing non-perishable crops, dairy and sugar, along with agricultural disaster assistance. Conservation: Includes programs for natural resource conservation on working lands and land retirement and easement programs. Trade: Covers food export subsidy programs and international food aid. Nutrition: Encompasses SNAP and other nutrition programs to assist low-income Americans, as well as school lunches. Credit: Focuses on federal loan programs to help farmers access financial credit. Rural development: Supports rural economic growth through business and community development, rural housing and infrastructure. Research, extension, and related matters: Funds farm and food research, education and extension programs. Forestry: Addresses forest-specific conservation programs. Energy: Encourages biofuel production, renewable energy installation and energy-related research. Horticulture: Includes farmers market programs, research funding for horticultural crops and organic farming initiatives. Crop Insurance: Provides subsidies for crop insurance premiums and supports the development of insurance policies. Miscellaneous: Covers various advocacy and outreach areas such as support for beginning, socially disadvantaged, and veteran farmers, agricultural labor safety, workforce development and livestock health. No new farm bills have been fully drafted or published this year. While the overall priorities are likely to remain similar to those of last year, they have been adjusted in response to ongoing discussions and the failure to pass a new bill ahead of the presidential election. With Republicans now controlling the House, Senate, and the presidency, the new Farm Bill is expected to reflect more conservative priorities, such as a focus on fiscal responsibility, spending reductions, and shifts in resource allocation, particularly within programs like SNAP. In the proposed 2024 Farm Bill, which ultimately did not come to fruition, some of the major changes that would have been implemented, if passed, included: SNAP Cuts (U.S. House): The proposal suggested maintaining the Thrifty Food Plan without factoring in inflation adjustments, potentially leading to a reduction of approximately $30 billion (now increased to $230 billion) in SNAP funding over the next decade. Over time, these cuts would have amplified, resulting in diminishing adequacy of SNAP benefits. Price Loss Coverage Increase (U.S. House): Price Loss Coverage reference prices would have increased by 10% to 20%, depending on the commodity, simultaneously enhancing income protection for growers through the Agriculture Risk Coverage program and crop insurance. Reallocate Conservation Funding (U.S. House): Incorporating Inflation Reduction Act conservation funding into the bill, the U.S. House proposed removing restrictions that limited funding for climate-smart practices. Instead, the funding would have been reallocated toward modifications to the Conservation Reserve Program and the reauthorization of funding for feral swine eradication. It would also have created a new Forest Conservation Easement Program. Support for Underserved Producers (U.S. Senate): The Senate's bill sought to increase financial support and price loss coverage for underserved producers (non-male and communities of color). The Senate also proposed an increase in PLC by only 3 to 5%. Rural Childcare Improvements (U.S. Senate): The Senate bill prioritized projects for childcare facilities in rural areas. Environmental Quality Incentives Updates (U.S. Senate): The bill expanded the purposes of EQIP to include "promoting environmental quality and climate change adaptation and mitigation as compatible goals with agricultural production and forest management; assisting producers with complying with local, state, and national regulatory requirements concerning climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience; and providing flexible assistance to producers to install and maintain conservation practices that sustain food and fiber production while sequestering carbon, increasing drought resilience, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and conserving energy." Farm Transitions (U.S. House): The bill sought to reauthorize the Commission on Farm Transitions-Needs for 2050 and make improvements based on Committee Member Yadira Caraveo's (D-Colo.) bipartisan legislation. Farmland Tracking (U.S. House): The bill aimed to refine reporting mandates within the Agriculture Foreign Investment Disclosure Act to enhance monitoring of acquisitions of U.S. farmland by Chinese and other foreign entities.. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Farm Bill delayed as Congress debates $230B cuts to SNAP. What's next?
