America’s economic well-being depends on the health of our farmlands and rural communities. As the nation’s sixth largest agricultural-producing state, Minnesota is home to over 67,000 farms that contribute almost $16 billion to our state economy each year. Rural communities that rely on an agricultural economy often see disproportionate impacts from natural disasters, market volatility, and global pandemics. These communities have unique needs, ranging from housing and infrastructure to health care and broadband access. We must give rural communities the tools they need to spur innovation, create jobs and opportunities, and confront these challenges.
The cyclical nature of agriculture means that farmers make large financial investments in their crops, livestock, buildings, and equipment and sometimes face heavy losses due to natural disasters and market circumstances beyond their control. As our weather becomes more extreme, farmers need greater support to survive climate-related disasters that have cost the farming economy hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years. I am committed to maintaining a strong, fair safety net for our farmers to help them get through disasters and periods of low prices.
Farmers and Midwestern workers also need to seize economic opportunities generated by the homegrown biofuels market as America continues to move toward energy independence. Farm-based biofuels are critical to both our rural economies and our nation’s energy security, and I am committed to supporting growth for farmers in this area—from traditional biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel to the next generation of cellulosic ethanol made from prairie grass to wind energy to electricity made from livestock waste.
The low population density of rural communities has meant that access to reliable broadband has lagged behind other parts of the country. Expanding broadband into all rural areas is essential for creating jobs, expanding economic opportunity, and leveling the playing field during crisis situations. I am fighting to get rural Minnesotans affordable broadband services to improve health care delivery, education, and business opportunities.
As Minnesota’s U.S. senator, I will continue to focus on these priorities:
- Supporting farmers and ranchers through the Farm Bills. When we support farmers and ranchers, we ensure the continuity of the agricultural supply chain, helping all workers, as well as small businesses. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I continue to work to pass the next Farm Bill. I worked hard to craft the strong 2018 Farm Bill that built on the successes of the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills, strengthened the safety net for Minnesota farmers and ranchers, invested in conservation programs, and supported homegrown energy. I will do the same this Congress.
- Preserving and strengthening the farm safety net. Farmers and farm communities need a strong and fair farm safety net to protect against extreme weather and market failures. In the 2018 Farm Bill, I worked to maintain and strengthen the crop insurance program, continue the sugar program, create new risk-management tools for dairy producers, and fully fund the permanent disaster programs for livestock producers. I have also introduced legislation with Senator John Thune of South Dakota to help young and beginning farmers afford adequate levels of insurance coverage for their crops.
- Shoring up the dairy program. Dairy farmers have faced significant financial stress due to low prices, stagnant export growth, and declining sales. That’s why I worked to address ongoing difficulties with the Margin Protection Program (MPP) for dairy farmers in the 2018 Farm Bill. After years of low prices, which threatened dairy farms with the prospect of needing to sell off their herds, I worked to ensure that the Department of Agriculture quickly implemented the dairy provisions from the 2018 Farm Bill to provide immediate relief. I also supported fixes in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to the MPP and provisions that provided a pathway to new insurance tools for dairy farmers. I am leading efforts to update the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) risk management program in the upcoming Farm Bill to help account for the rising input costs and the growing size of dairy herds.
- Dairy exports and access to international markets. Dairy farmers deserve fair access to international markets, and this principle is a key component of the agriculture section of the United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA). In 2020, I called on the U.S. Trade Representative for fair enforcement of the dairy provisions of the USCMA. In 2022, a USMCA dispute resolution panel sided with the United States in a case regarding unjustified trade restrictions on American dairy products. However, despite changes to its policies, Canada continued to limit U.S. dairy access, leading to the establishment of another dispute resolution panel in 2023 to improve access for American exporters. Obstacles remain for U.S. dairy producers, and I remain committed to ensuring that our dairy producers, including those in Minnesota, are not disadvantaged by unfair trade barriers.
- Additional reform of federal farm payments. In the 2008 Farm Bill, I worked to pass important reforms to the farm payment system, including an income cap on eligibility for commodity payments. In the 2014 Farm Bill, we made additional reforms aimed at ensuring that payments are focused on our family farmers. I continue working to make sure that federal support goes to new farmers who are often struggling to make their farms solvent and competitive in these times of low prices and export-market uncertainty. The 2014 Farm Bill also included two of my amendments to help beginning farmers and ranchers by reducing the cost of accessing crop insurance and eliminating the penalty for beginning ranchers who graze livestock on CRP acres. In the 2018 Farm Bill, I successfully included an amendment to incentivize landowners with expiring CRP acres to sell to beginning farmers. I also lead the bipartisan Conservation Reserve Program Improvement Act with Senator John Thune of South Dakota, which would improve on these changes while helping equip our farmers with the tools they need to conserve and improve soil, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
- Providing incentives for homegrown, farm-based energy. Homegrown energy production can reduce our dependence on foreign oil while bringing jobs to our rural communities. In order to expand our homegrown energy technologies and supplies, it is important for investors to have a stable, reliable set of economic guidelines. That’s why I’m fighting to maintain a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and have continually pushed back against any effort to weaken the RFS. Several of my bills that make significant investments in programs that will support increased access to homegrown renewable fuels were signed into law in 2022. These investments will support the wider adoption of biofuels all while continuing to provide rural jobs and market opportunities for farmers. I also lead a bill with Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska allowing for year-round E15 across the country, because making affordable, readily-available biofuels produced in the U.S. is good for drivers and farmers alike.
- Opening markets for Minnesota producers. Exports are critical to the U.S. economy. In 2023, Minnesota exported over $15 billion worth of agricultural products and ranked as the fourth-highest exporting state in the nation. From 2000 to 2021, Minnesota’s total agricultural exports more than tripled—far higher than the national growth rate—and supported more than 52,000 jobs on and off the farm. As the former chairwoman of the Senate Subcommittee on Export Promotion, I believe we must do everything we can to help American farmers sell more of their products in foreign markets. Exports are key to the success of our beef, pork, dairy, and turkey producers, and I will do everything I can to assist them in breaking down export barriers. I will continue to work to keep existing markets open, support fair-trade agreements, and create new opportunities for Minnesota producers. I supported the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) signed in 2018 and revised in 2019. I felt that given the agreement’s additionally negotiated pro-labor and environmental changes and its elimination of a provision that would have benefitted pharmaceutical companies at the expense of consumers, it provided much-needed stability and economic opportunity for American farmers, producers, and consumers. A North American trading bloc is also an essential strategy to compete with China on a global scale.
From 2019 to 2021, the cost of exporting goods to Asia increased fourfold for American farmers and businesses, and over the past two years, the cost of importing goods from Asia increased by as much as ten times. Those price hikes on our exporters and consumers were accompanied by astoundingly unreliable service. Shipments were riddled with delays and exporters were repeatedly slapped with unexpected fees that could not be disputed. In too many cases, it was clear that the shipping carriers were leaving ready-to-ship goods at American ports in favor of imports from other countries. That’s why I partnered with Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota to introduce and pass the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to level the playing field for farmers and consumers. - Preventing catastrophic disease outbreaks. In 2015, we saw the devastating effects of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak that claimed nine million turkeys at 110 farms in 23 Minnesota counties. In Minnesota alone, the economic damage has been estimated at over $640 million. This outbreak showed us that we need to be doing everything we can to prevent catastrophic disease outbreaks before they start, and if we do have an outbreak, we need to be prepared. In 2018, I introduced the Animal Disease and Disaster Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act, which was included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The final provisions created a new Animal Disease and Disaster Response Program and a Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine bank that continues to help protect Minnesota farmers against disease outbreaks.
This year, we are again experiencing another HPAI outbreak. While our federal and state responses have been faster and more effective, millions of turkeys have been affected. As I work with my colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee to write the Farm Bill, I am focused on further bolstering our disease response programs. I am again leading a bill to give the USDA more tools to work with state and local authorities to monitor and prevent the outbreak of Avian Flu, Foot and Mouth Disease, and other livestock diseases. It’s critical that we put resources in place to regularly check and test animals; strengthen relationships among government, businesses, and universities to provide rapid detection and response capabilities; and invest in the infrastructure necessary to protect against and respond to diseases that could have severe impacts on livestock producers. - Helping farmers with disaster relief. Numerous external factors outside the control of farmers affect their ability to plant and harvest a crop or raise livestock. Minnesota farmers have experienced losses in the millions as a result of recent weather disasters and disease outbreaks. In order to overcome these disasters, farmers and livestock producers need permanent disaster assistance programs to continue producing the food, fiber, and fuel we all need. A permanent program means that it doesn’t take an act of Congress for farmers to get relief each time disaster strikes—help will be there when farmers need it. I have worked to authorize permanent disaster assistance programs—such as those included in the 2008 Farm Bill—that have helped Minnesota farmers recover millions in crop losses caused by disasters, and have provided support for Minnesota’s poultry and livestock producers who experience millions of dollars in losses each year due to extreme weather.
- Conserving our natural resources. Conservation programs in the Farm Bill provide the tools for farmers and ranchers in Minnesota to conserve sensitive lands and promote farming practices that reduce soil erosion and improve air and water quality. Minnesota consistently ranks as one of the top states for conservation program enrollment. The 2014 Farm Bill streamlined and protected the important conservation programs Minnesota producers use to keep our soil healthy and our water clean. The livelihood of farmers depends on clean water and healthy soils. These provisions will help ensure that our natural resources are protected for generations of Minnesotans. Several provisions I advocated for were passed into law in 2022 that invest in conservation innovation, including voluntary, incentive-based programs, like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. These programs promote soil health, sequester carbon, and provide farmers with new revenue streams for the climate-related work they are already doing on their farms. I also lead the bipartisan Agriculture Innovation Act that would help farmers better utilize conservation practices by modernizing USDA conservation data storage, sharing, and technical assistance.
- Ensuring that the nutrition needs of our most vulnerable citizens are met by our farmers. During economic downturns, including both the 2009 Great Recession and the coronavirus pandemic, the USDA nutrition programs have served as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans. I want to ensure that this vital safety net, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is in place to provide meaningful relief to Minnesotans when it is most needed. School nutrition programs help introduce children to new fruits and vegetables, providing healthy foods while also fostering healthier eating habits that can last a lifetime. I support farmers’ markets and other opportunities for farmers to market their products directly to Minnesotans in local restaurants and stores. I also support maintaining the nutrition title as part of the Farm Bill because everyone benefits when we reconnect to the farmers in our communities that provide us safe, nutritious, and affordable food.
- Strengthening broadband and infrastructure in rural communities. For our rural producers and businesses to stay competitive in a global marketplace, we need the infrastructure that gives them access to foreign consumers. Broadband and high-tech advancements allow producers to sell their crops and livestock at better prices, reduce fuel and input materials to protect the environment, and provide new business and education opportunities for rural communities. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and as a co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Broadband Caucus, I have been a champion for rural broadband. I believe connecting rural areas will provide increased access to education, health care, and business opportunities. That’s why I made sure the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $65 billion for broadband infrastructure based on legislation I introduced with Rep. Jim Clyburn to bring high-speed internet to every family in America. As 42 million Americans—including 16 percent of households in rural Minnesota—lack reliable broadband access, the need for this bill could not be more urgent. As a result of that law, Minnesota has received a game-changing grant of more than $650 million for broadband projects over the next five years. Now, we have new resources to deliver broadband to people in every corner of the state. Importantly, the legislation has a clawback provision in it, so if the providers don’t use the money like they’re supposed to, the state will be able to get it back to give to someone else who is ready to do the work. This critical funding will help unserved and underserved communities close the digital divide and connect Americans to ensure that they have increased access to education, health care, and business opportunities.
- Meeting the housing and health care needs of rural communities. We must ensure that policy proposals for housing and health care reflect rural America’s specific needs. While many rural Americans are more vulnerable to endemic and surging respiratory viruses, they are also often less able to access treatment, and rural hospitals and health systems often have fewer health care workers and resources to meet an increase in demand. We also must ensure our rural neighbors have adequate access to quality behavioral health, as well as reproductive and maternal health care. Finally, we must make sure that those health care workers that keep our communities healthy have affordable and quality housing available right in the communities in which they serve.
As Minnesota’s U.S. senator, I’ve been fighting to keep our farms and rural communities strong and to keep our state a leader in homegrown energy by:
- Supporting farmers and ranchers through the Farm Bills. I have worked to pass the last three Farm Bills—in 2008, 2014, and 2018. During consideration of each bill, I fought for provisions that strengthened the safety net for Minnesota farmers, ranchers, and livestock producers. The 2018 Farm Bill protected and expanded crop insurance to cover new crops and types of production, improved the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) risk management programs for farmers, and strengthened investments in agricultural research to support the scientific efforts that make farmers more efficient and resilient. I am continuing to fight for the safety net for Minnesota farmers, ranchers, and livestock producers in the next Farm Bill.
The 2018 Farm Bill also provided new tools to conserve land and promote clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades. The law maintained funding in the conservation title and maintained unique working lands programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The law also helps rural small businesses and farmers use renewable energy and install energy-efficiency measures in their operations.
In the 2014 Farm Bill, I worked to include a strong energy title to reduce farm utility costs. I authored an amendment included in the bill to provide an additional $100 million for the Rural Energy for America (REAP) program to help farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses lower their energy bills by installing renewable and energy-efficient technologies. In the 2018 Farm Bill, I again included an amendment that will make critical investments for many of the programs in the energy title, including REAP, the Biorefinery Assistance Program, the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, and the Biobased Markets Program or “Bio-Preferred.” Last year I introduced the bipartisan Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act with Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, which would make much-needed improvements to the Biobased Markets Program allowing for increased participation, establishing minimum requirements for federal biobased contracts, and requiring a study of the effects of biobased products on greenhouse gas emissions. - Ensuring simpler and fairer tax treatment for agriculture equipment. Putting money back in the pockets of our farmers and ranchers enables them to promote economic growth and strengthen our rural communities. In 2015, I introduced a bipartisan bill with former Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas that would help farmers purchase new equipment and replace worn-out machinery by amending the U.S. tax code to permanently set a five-year depreciation schedule for certain agricultural equipment. Changing the depreciation schedule to five years makes the tax code more consistent and aids rural development by increasing farm income by over $850 million a year, while helping farmers and ranchers finance new equipment and replace worn-out machinery. This provision was signed into law in December 2017. I continue to support additional measures that will help farmers and ranchers invest and grow, including extending expensing and depreciation tax provisions, which would allow businesses to write off the cost of investments in new property and equipment.
- Cutting red tape and giving a voice to farmers. I believe that if more people with a farming background were included in the decision-making process for new federal policies, we might avoid some of the regulations that have justifiably frustrated farmers in Minnesota and across the nation. I have fought hard to protect farmers from burdensome regulations, such as proposals to treat milk the same as oil when requiring spill prevention plans, to regulate dust on farm roads and driveways, and to obtain multiple identification numbers to participate in voluntary conservation programs. I introduced the Representation for Farmers Act to ensure that American farmers have a major voice in the decision-making process for environmental policies and regulations that would affect U.S. agriculture, and I successfully fought to include a version of this provision in the 2014 Farm Bill. In 2021, I also introduced the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act with Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, which would remove restrictive requirements for E15 fuel dispenser labeling and update outdated underground storage tank requirements to better protect our environment and facilitate access to higher blends of renewable fuels.
- Preserving and strengthening the farm safety net. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I worked to strengthen the crop insurance program and helped provide our dairy farmers greater protection from excessive market volatility in the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. I also successfully fought to extend the commodity programs in the 2008, 2014, and 2018 Farm Bills and to rebalance these programs to be more equitable to northern crops such as wheat, barley, and canola. I will continue my efforts to ensure that these programs work for our farmers in times of price volatility.
In addition, I introduced the bipartisan Family Farmer Relief Act with Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, which was signed into law in 2019. In the years since, bankruptcy rates among American farmers have fallen, and in 2022, the Chapter 12 bankruptcy rate reached the lowest level in nearly two decades. - Shoring up the dairy program. In the 2018 Farm Bill, I worked to resolve the difficulties with the Margin Protection Program (MPP) for dairy farmers. Dairy farmers are facing low prices, stagnant export growth, and declining sales that threaten their operations. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 included provisions to fix problems within the MPP and provided a pathway to new insurance tools for dairy farmers. In September 2017, I led a congressional letter to former Agriculture Secretary Perdue asking that he take steps to make milk an agricultural commodity eligible for crop insurance, and the budget deal in early 2018 included provisions to remove the arbitrary cap on dairy insurance and to allow for innovative new risk management tools for dairy farmers.
The 2018 Farm Bill included provisions to provide more coverage and more flexible tools for dairy farmers by allowing operations to cover margins up to $9.50 in the new Dairy Margin Coverage program. My energy title amendment also included a provision that allows each dairy operation that participated in the Margin Protection Program between 2014 and 2017 to receive a repayment of premiums paid over that time period as either a 50 percent direct refund or a 75 percent credit toward future premiums. After years of low prices threatened dairy farms with the prospect of needing to sell off their herds, I insisted that the Department of Agriculture work quickly to implement the dairy provisions from the 2018 Farm Bill to provide immediate relief.
I continue to support strong dairy provisions as we work on the current Farm Bill. I have called for updates to the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) risk management program to be incorporated. These updates will help account for the rising input costs and the growing size of dairy herds. The Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program has proven to be a critical risk management tool for dairy farmers to help manage risks associated with changes in the margin between milk prices and feed costs. - Incentives for homegrown, farm-based energy. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I have supported increasing incentives for homegrown, farm-based energy. This includes ensuring a strong Renewable Fuel Standard, boosting biofuel innovation and deployment, as well as funding programs that allow farmers to invest in renewable energy that can create jobs and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
- Supporting a renewable fuel standard. I have pushed hard to maintain a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that will help drive innovation and boost Minnesota’s economy while reducing our dependence on foreign oil. I have long led bipartisan efforts with Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa calling for a strong RFS, which have led to permanent rules that have increased overall renewable fuel volume requirements (RVOs). In 2014 and 2015, the EPA proposed changes to the RFS that would have hurt the biofuels industry by lowering the biofuels targets, discouraging investment, and reducing jobs in rural communities across the country. I successfully led bipartisan meetings of senators with former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and former White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough to urge the Obama administration to reverse the changes and maintain a strong RFS, which they did following the meeting.
The Trump administration consistently undermined the RFS by granting refinery waivers to multi-billion-dollar oil companies. In its first three years, the Trump administration approved 85 waivers, which reduced demand for more than 4 billion gallons of renewable fuel and caused significant harm to our farmers and our homegrown biofuels market. I called on the Trump administration to immediately reallocate the gallons of renewable biofuel lost to these waivers and cosponsored legislation that would make changes to the refinery waiver approval process so that the application and decision-making processes are made more transparent. I have called on the Biden administration to take bold action to support farmers and combat climate change by rejecting refinery waivers and restoring the gallons wrongfully waived by the previous administration in future RVOs. - Using the best research to boost biofuel use. One way to continue increasing the use of biofuels is to ensure that the EPA is accurately accounting for the emissions from ethanol and biodiesel. Recent studies have demonstrated that using corn ethanol in place of gasoline cuts greenhouse gas emissions by almost half. However, the EPA’s process for modeling emissions for the RFS has not been revised since 2010. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Adopt GREET Act with Senator John Thune of South Dakota to direct the EPA to update its modeling to reflect the latest science.
I also lead the bipartisan Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act with Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa to improve the Biobased Markets Program, more commonly known as “Biopreferred,” which supports the development and expansion of markets for biobased products. This bill would make much-needed improvements allowing for increased participation, establishing minimum requirements for federal biobased contracts, including biobased terms in the definitions section of the energy title, and requiring a study of the effects of biobased products on greenhouse gas emissions. - Increasing ethanol and biodiesel availability. I have consistently pushed to make ethanol and biodiesel more readily available to American consumers at the gas pump. That is why Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska and I introduced the bipartisan Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act which would enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent, helping to lower fuel prices and provide certainty in fuel markets for farmers and consumers. I am also leading the bipartisan Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act with Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas to enhance the ability of the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Products Assistance program to support the development of biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products. The bill would update the underlying loan guarantee program and restore a grant program to support public-private partnership investment in facility development.
- Expanding biofuel infrastructure. I have repeatedly advocated for Minnesota to receive funds to expand biofuel infrastructure. In 2016, Minnesota received $8 million in federal funding to install blender pumps for biofuels at fueling stations. The investment boosted local economies across our state, gave drivers more choices at the pump, and reduced dependence on foreign oil. The bipartisan Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act I introduced with Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa creates a permanent biofuel infrastructure program at the Department of Agriculture and expands the availability of low-carbon renewable fuels in the marketplace, resulting in cleaner air, lower fuel prices, and rural economic vitality. This bill became law in 2022 and is helping fueling stations upgrade their fuel pumps and storage tanks to deliver higher blends of biofuel.
- Supporting next generation biofuels. I have led efforts in the Senate Agriculture Committee to move the nation toward the next generation of biofuels—cellulosic ethanol made from dedicated energy crops like prairie grass and alfalfa, as well as from agricultural residues and wood chips. Working with former Senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Kent Conrad of North Dakota, I authored the Farm-to-Fuel Investment Act, which was included in the Energy Title of the 2008 Farm Bill. The bill offers incentives to farmers to grow dedicated energy crops on marginal farmland.
- Developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airlines across the country are committed to developing technologies to reduce carbon emissions from air travel. The expanded use of sustainable aviation fuel will create jobs in rural areas, bolster our national security, and slash carbon emissions.
That is why I co-lead the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus with Senators Jerry Moran of Kansas, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and John Boozman of Arkansas. The Caucus is working with airlines and farmers to lower emissions and create new markets for agricultural products through the development of sustainable aviation fuel. - Opening markets for Minnesota producers. I favor doing all we can to make it easier to assist our farmers and rural communities in exporting products, including raw and processed agricultural commodities and other manufactured goods. I have worked to ensure that we have a functional export-import bank and fair trade agreements. I lead the bipartisan bill to lift the embargo with Cuba. I also have worked with a bipartisan group of senators to make market access for U.S. agriculture producers a priority in the resolution of non-tariff trade barriers meant to discriminate against U.S. products and for the favorable treatment of U.S. agriculture products in trade agreements with other countries. I successfully fought to pressure China to reopen its markets to American pork, beef, and poultry products and for India to reduce tariffs on American turkey. I have also pushed Japan to reopen its market to U.S. beef and led a bipartisan group of senators in calling on South Africa and South Korea to address non-scientific trade barriers that are limiting our turkey exports.
I partnered with Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota and Representatives John Garamendi of California and Dusty Johnson of South Dakota to introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Ocean Shipping Reform Act to level the playing field for manufacturers, farmers, and consumers. This legislation was signed into law in June 2022. By the end of 2022, the average cost to import a 40-foot container from Asia to the West Coast was down 84 percent from January 2022, while the average cost to export a container from the West Coast to Asia dropped 22 percent. - Preventing catastrophic disease outbreaks. During the avian influenza outbreak in 2015, I worked hard to ensure that our farmers had the assistance they needed to deal with the crisis and recover. I introduced the Animal Disease and Disaster Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act, which was included in the 2018 Farm Bill. The final provisions created a National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program and a Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine bank that will help protect Minnesota farmers against the next disease outbreak. Last year I introduced the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act, which would boost resources for these important programs. Minnesota remains a leader in outbreak surveillance and testing, and I will continue to support our advanced public health laboratory and response network in the negotiations on the current Farm Bill.
- Helping farmers with disaster relief. I worked to secure the first-ever permanent livestock disaster assistance program in the 2008 Farm Bill. Since 2008, this program has helped Minnesota farmers recover millions in crop losses caused by disasters and has provided support for Minnesota’s poultry and livestock producers who experience millions of dollars in losses each year due to extreme weather. In the 2014 Farm Bill, I fought to ensure that the disaster programs for our livestock producers were fully funded. I have also worked to expand and strengthen programs like the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), which provides cattle producers assistance for livestock deaths caused by snowstorms, excessive heat, and other adverse weather.
Crop insurance is a critical tool to help farmers pull themselves up in the face of a rough season and farm another year. It’s particularly important for helping new farmers stay on their feet in difficult times. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act with Senator John Thune of South Dakota to make it easier for young and beginning farmers to obtain and afford crop insurance. Providing this stability to the people who grow our food is essential to our nation’s success.
When severe weather caused flooding in 2019, I worked to pass the Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (WHIP) and the Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program-Plus (WHIP+) in order to provide disaster funding. These programs provided relief to producers who suffered losses from drought or excessive moisture in 2018 and 2019. - Conserving our natural resources. As we work to pass a new Farm Bill, I will continue to support the conservation programs I have worked on in previous Farm Bills. I supported efforts to create a compromise on conservation compliance that would extend conservation protections to the crop insurance program. I also worked to ensure that a “Sodsaver” provision was included in the bill to protect native prairie and disincentivize the conversion of native sod to cropland. I lead bipartisan legislation to expand the Sodsaver provision nationwide and remove program loopholes. Legislation I supported last year reinvests in conservation programs that have been successful Minnesota programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). I supported increasing the number of acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to 27 million acres in the 2018 Farm Bill and creating a pilot program to study innovative approaches to improve soil health and carbon sequestration. This year, I am working with Senator John Thune of South Dakota on the bipartisan Conservation Reserve Program Improvement Act to bolster the CRP program by improving access to grazing, providing more enrollment options to producers, and addressing CRP implementation issues following the 2018 Farm Bill.
I also introduced the bipartisan Agriculture Innovation Act with Senator Thune, which was modified and included in the 2018 Farm Bill to direct the USDA to collect, collate, integrate, and link data relating to the impacts of conservation practices on enhancing crop yields, improving soil health, reducing risk, and improving profitability. Our bill established a secure conservation and farm productivity data warehouse, as well as procedures to protect the integrity and confidentiality of proprietary producer data. The resulting research and analysis will be disseminated to producers in a manner that makes it easy for them to utilize the information to enhance conservation benefits and increase profitability. In October 2020, the USDA began a pilot program based on the 2018 Farm Bill provision that combines data from several USDA agencies to assess how conservation practices like cover crops helped reduce flooding and improved yields. Senator Thune and I introduced an updated version of the Agriculture Innovation Act last year to help farmers better understand the value of conservation practices by modernizing USDA conservation data storage, sharing, and technical assistance.
To improve access to the USDA’s voluntary conservation programs, I also introduced a bill with Republican Senator John Boozman of Arkansas that would remove burdensome annual reporting requirements for farmers who want to improve conservation practices on their farms. That bill was passed into law in 2018. - Getting nutritious farm produce to our most vulnerable citizens. Programs that purchase fresh produce from local farmers to supply school lunches and support families in need are a win-win for Minnesota. The Farm Bill provides a strong safety net through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). In 2008, 2014, and 2018, I pushed for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which helps introduce children to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as programs that fund the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for school lunches.
Last year I introduced the RESET For America’s Future Act, which would make changes to the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program. These changes would incentivize states to strengthen evidence-based and rigorously proven job training approaches and help SNAP participants gain the skills and training necessary to move into good-paying jobs. I also helped lead the passage of the bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was signed into law in 2010, to overhaul the major domestic food assistance programs that serve the nutritional needs of 29 million American children each day. I worked with my colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee to pass a bipartisan reauthorization of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2016, which would preserve these important reforms while giving local school districts the flexibility they need to continue feeding our kids. - Strengthening broadband and infrastructure in rural communities. I have fought to extend access to affordable, reliable broadband because, in 2022, every American should have access to high-speed internet regardless of Zip code. As millions of Americans lack reliable broadband access, the need for this focus could not be more urgent. I have fought to improve Minnesota’s infrastructure, working to include core programs in the Farm Bill that provide vital support for building and maintaining wastewater facilities, loan guarantees, and grants for rural businesses and manufacturers to grow and expand.
I made sure the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed into law in November 2021, included the largest investment our country has ever made in high-speed broadband. The $65 billion for broadband infrastructure was based on legislation I introduced with Representative Jim Clyburn to bring high-speed internet to every family in America. The law includes $2 billion in additional funding for the USDA Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program, which focuses grants on rural areas that need broadband. As a result of that law, Minnesota has received a game-changing grant of more than $650 million for broadband projects over the next five years. Now, we have new resources to deliver broadband to people in every corner of the state. Importantly, the legislation has a clawback provision in it, so if the providers don’t use the money like they’re supposed to, the state will be able to get it back to give to someone else who is ready to do the work. This critical funding will help unserved and underserved communities close the digital divide and connect Americans to ensure that they have increased access to education, health care, and business opportunities.
We need to make sure that companies applying for federal funding to build out broadband infrastructure can get the job done. That’s why in February 2023 I introduced the bipartisan Rural Broadband Protection Act with Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia. The bill, which passed the Senate in July, would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a more thorough vetting process to ensure that providers applying for federal funding are capable of delivering reliable broadband access to unserved and rural communities. I will continue to work closely with the FCC and Department of Commerce as this funding is distributed. - Connecting our rural communities. I have worked with Senator John Thune of South Dakota to call on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to modernize rules intended to ensure that Americans in rural areas have access to affordable broadband services. With the support of 59 senators, we successfully pressured the FCC to update these rules in March 2016. In February 2018, the bipartisan Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act that I introduced with Senators Thune and John Tester of Montana was signed into law. The bill directs the FCC to establish basic quality standards for providers that transmit voice calls to help ensure businesses, families, and emergency responders can count on phone calls being completed.
In March 2020, legislation that I introduced with Senators Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Gary Peters of Michigan, and Thune—the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act—was signed into law. This legislation will improve the FCC’s broadband data collection process to create more accurate broadband coverage maps and help ensure that the funds for broadband deployment go to the communities that need it most. In December 2020, the year-end omnibus bill included $65 million in funding to implement the Broadband DATA Act. I also introduced legislation with Senator Wicker to direct the FCC, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the USDA to coordinate and share information on their broadband deployment efforts so that federal funds are used effectively to target both the unserved and underserved. Our bill was signed into law in December 2020. I introduced legislation to help ensure college students with the greatest financial needs at Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs) were connected to critical internet services during the pandemic. The December 2020, year-end omnibus bill also included $285 million in funding for college students with the greatest financial need based on my bill.
I am also working to pass the bipartisan Rural Internet Improvement Act, would would streamline USDA’s broadband authorities by merging and codifying the popular Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect) with USDA’s traditional broadband loan and grant program and ensure that their funding is being targeted to rural areas that need it the most. - Access to precision agriculture technology. As agriculture increasingly relies on precision technology, we need to give farmers and ranchers the tools they need to take advantage of new technologies and improve their businesses, reduce costs, and improve crop yields. That’s why I joined Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi to introduce the Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act to identify gaps in coverage and encourage broadband deployment on farms and ranchlands. Our legislation was signed into law as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. Precision agriculture technology helps farmers boost yields and be more environmentally efficient, but only if they have access to reliable broadband. The 2018 Omnibus Budget Act, which was signed into law in March 2018, contained an additional $600 million for dedicated broadband funding as well as my bills to encourage wireless carriers to work with rural or smaller carriers to increase wireless broadband access in rural communities and to cut red tape by ensuring that states coordinate highway construction projects with broadband providers so that broadband infrastructure can be installed at the same time—known as “dig once.”
As we consider the next Farm Bill, I am working with Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska to pass the Precision Agriculture Loan Program Act, which would provide dedicated financing through USDA’s Farm Service Agency to help farmers purchase precision agriculture equipment that reduces emissions and water and chemical usage. - Infrastructure plans that help rural communities. As a member of the Commerce and Agriculture committees, I have long supported leveraging both direct funding and public-private partnerships to rebuild and reinvest in our infrastructure. I have worked to fund projects through public-private partnerships in rural areas so that smaller communities can make much-needed infrastructure improvements. But we can’t rely on public-private partnerships alone to fund projects. Direct federal funding is essential, especially in rural America, where federal dollars help maintain and upgrade infrastructure that attracts investment and helps communities stay competitive. I have also pushed to ensure financing mechanisms stay in place that help rural communities upgrade aging wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.
- Addressing rail issues. As I travel across Minnesota, I continue to hear from agricultural producers who are experiencing rail service delays, including backlogs on orders for rail cars and shipping delays once cars are loaded with cargo. The results are lost sales, involuntary shutdowns at processing facilities, and disruption to agriculture markets. Reliable and affordable rail service is critical for providing our agriculture producers access to markets beyond our state’s borders. Overall, the U.S. exported almost $174 billion in farm products in 2023. As the fourth largest agricultural exporting state in the country, Minnesota contributes substantially to these export numbers. We must be sure we have the transportation networks to get our agricultural exports to our trading partners. That’s why in 2015, Senator Thune and I asked the USDA to conduct a comprehensive economic analysis on how rail service challenges are impacting agricultural producers, crop prices, basis levels, agricultural exports, food prices, and other agricultural end-users, including food processors, livestock producers, and ethanol refiners. And as a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, I pushed railroad companies to address these service delays. I also successfully urged the Surface Transportation Board to collect additional data on rail performance to increase transparency and improve service.
I have additionally worked to require the railroad industry to play by the same antitrust rules as other industries. I introduced the bipartisan Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act to remove the railroad industry’s obsolete exemption from the antitrust laws. More competitive pricing for “captive shippers” with access to only one rail company will help ensure that farmers and rural businesses can move their products as quickly and affordably as possible.
Finally, I am working to increase rail safety. In March 2023, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train carrying 22 cars of mixed freight, including ethanol and corn syrup, derailed near Raymond, Minnesota. I visited Raymond soon after the derailment to meet with first responders and community members. This incident, along with the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio in February of that same year, has made it clear that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of our rail system. That’s why I have pushed railroad companies to address safety issues. I am working to pass the Railway Safety Act, which would strengthen safety procedures and inspections for trains carrying hazardous materials and increase penalties for rail companies when crashes happen. It would also require well-trained two-person crews aboard every train, a change that I have long supported. - Meeting the housing and health care needs of rural communities. Rural communities face unique economic needs, and we must ensure that we give them the necessary tools they need to thrive. I have fought for funding for rural housing, including funding for the rural rental assistance program, rural housing construction funding, and loans for elderly homeowners for home repairs and improvements that remove health and safety hazards. I have worked to make healthcare more accessible in rural Minnesota by supporting critical access hospitals, championing proposals to bring down rural health insurance rates with expanded premium tax credits and reinsurance, and leading the successful effort to extend the Conrad State 30 program to bring more doctors to rural areas. Conrad State 30 allows international doctors trained in the United States to extend their stay here if they agree to practice in medical provider shortage areas.
I supported my colleague Senator Tina Smith’s bipartisan RURAL Moms Act, which passed into law in March 2022 and provides funds to hire more rural obstetric health care workers, increase training for providers, and expand resources for telehealth.
Rural America has been hit particularly hard by the opioid and substance use epidemic as well as a rise in the use of methamphetamine. That’s why I co-led the effort to pass landmark bipartisan legislation in 2016, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which encourages states and local communities to pursue a full array of proven strategies in the fight against addiction, including expanding access to naloxone among law enforcement and other first responders. In 2018, we built on the success of CARA by introducing CARA 2.0 which increased the authorized funding levels for CARA programs. Several key provisions of CARA 2.0 were enacted as part of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act of 2018.
I have also introduced the CARA 3.0 Act with a bipartisan group of senators to build on the momentum of CARA and CARA 2.0. This bill includes additional funding for CARA programs and puts in place additional policy reforms to combat the synthetic opioid and methamphetamine drug epidemics.
I also introduced a bipartisan bill with former Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act, to help prevent dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl from being shipped through our postal system from overseas. The bill was signed into law in 2018. Last Congress, I introduced a follow-up bill with Senators Portman and Capito of West Virginia, the STOP Act 2.0 Act to build on the successes of the STOP Act by providing federal law enforcement agencies with additional tools to crack down on illegal drug shipments. And in September 2022, the White House announced the distribution of another $1.5 billion in State Opioid Response Grants, including $11.2 million dollars awarded to 27 Minnesota counties and tribes and separately $825,000 for The Native American Community Clinic. For as long as it takes, I will continue fighting for additional funds and resources to help communities combat addiction.