OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

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Floor Speech

Date: April 4, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, I would like to call up my amendment No. 1441 and ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 25 hours.

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Mr. BOOKER. OK. I just ask that it be reported by number.

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Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, farmers already deal with so much uncertainty from prices. They should not have to deal with the uncertainty that our government won't follow through on its contracts.

Farmers who apply for grant programs are awarded funding on their merits. They make legally binding agreements. As a result, they spend tens of thousands of dollars on projects in accordance with those agreements. But with little notice, President Trump stopped paying those contracts. No one is telling the farmers or even Congress here when or if this money will be released, as legally required. It is really unacceptable.

Farmers operate on tight margins and cannot be left waiting for weeks and months without the funding they rightfully plan for and need to keep operating. I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this amendment to prohibit Trump's USDA from continuing to illegally withhold funding from our farmers.

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Mr. BOOKER. Out of the kindness and generosity of my colleague there, instead of asking for a rollcall vote, I ask for a voice vote. Vote on Amendment No. 1441

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