Several Democrats on the Senate and House Agriculture Committees will bring farmers and anti-hunger advocates as their guests to the State of the Union address tonight to call attention to how they say President Trump’s policies are impacting their constituents’ ability to produce and access food.
In the Senate, top Agriculture Democrat Amy Klobuchar is bringing third-generation farmer Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union. In the House, Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Oregon) is bringing dairy farmer Bubba King. Representative Sharice Davis (D-Kansas) invited Joe Newland, president of the Kansas Farm Bureau, and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) will be accompanied by farmer Seth Kroeck. As the growing season rapidly approaches, Kroeck is waiting on about $90,000 in frozen conservation funds related to contracts he signed with the USDA last year.
“Like so many hardworking Mainers, Seth has been directly impacted by the President’s illegal funding freeze—which has left farmers without the resources they need to not only keep their businesses running, but to keep our communities fed,” Pingree said in a press release. “Seth’s story is a stark reminder that this administration’s policies aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet; they have real consequences for real people, real families, and real livelihoods.”
To call attention and build opposition to Republicans’ proposed cuts to SNAP benefits (which are not yet final), Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) will host Kristin Warchoza, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. (Link to this post.)
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