Agriculture
Washington, DC – U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Mike Bost (IL-12) introduced bipartisan legislation that empowers farmers to help combat food deserts. The Feeding America through Farm Flexibility Act would enable farmers to grow fruits and vegetables on an additional five percent of their acreage without a crop insurance penalty, if the food is sold or donated to food deserts.
The recent article entitled "We're ‘bullseye' in trade wars" details the real threat that Kankakee farmers are under from President Trump's misguided and ill-conceived trade war.
If the president continues to pursue his current course of dangerous action, the underpinning of Kankakee's and Illinois' economy will fall away.
New legislation to address student debt was recently introduced as the Young Farmers Success Act. The bill, HR 3232, was introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. Introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney and cosponsored by Reps. Glenn ‘GT' Thompson, Antonio Delgado, Josh Harder, Lee Zeldin, Peter Welch, Robin Kelly, and Chellie Pingree, the bill aims to relieve some of the financial burdens on students pursuing an agricultural career.