Fischer Votes to Advance Farm Bill, Secures Year-Round Sale of E15

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, voted to advance the Farm Bill out of committee. The legislation passed with a vote of 12-11 and includes several of Fischer’s priorities. “We are one step closer to getting a full Farm Bill done for producers in Nebraska, and across the country,” Fischer said. “I am proud to have led the effort to get E15 included in this strong, bipartisan bill, and secure many of my top priorities for the ag industry and rural America. I thank Chairman Boozman for his leadership and unwavering support for farmers and ranchers who are in dire need of a modern Farm Bill.” The Farm Bill passed out of committee today includes several of Fischer’s priorities: Year-Round Sale of E15 Led by Fischer for a decade, this provision allows for the nationwide year-round sale of E15 gasoline. The provision removes the summertime restriction that has been extended through emergency waivers by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the last several years. The provision does not require consumers to purchase the gasoline, nor does it require gas stations to install E15 pumps. PRECISE Act The Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment (PRECISE) Act provides a suite of financial tools to help farmers and ranchers of all sizes increase their adoption of precision ag technologies through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs. Read more. PAL Act The Precision Agriculture Loan (PAL) Act creates a program within USDA to provide loan financing to farmers and ranchers interested in purchasing precision agriculture equipment. Read more. LAST ACRE Act The Linking Access to Spur Technology for Agriculture Connectivity in Rural Environments (LAST ACRE) Act creates a new Last Acre Program at the USDA Office of Rural Development to expand network connectivity across farmland and ranchland. Read more. Increasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act This legislation prevents future food shortages by requiring USDA to incorporate Tribal input in contracting decisions. It also strengthens USDA’s emergency response during disruptions and allows for tribal consultation on nutrition programs in the state. Read more. FENCE Act Championed by Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Fischer co-led the Fencing Eligibility for New Conservation Equipment (FENCE) Act to authorize USDA to include virtual fencing as an option for farmers and ranchers under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). Including virtual fencing in the program provides American farmers and ranchers with greater flexibility to rebuild and recover. Read more. Amendment to allow USDA to prevent conservation program dollars from going to foreign adversary companies of concern Gives the department discretion over conservation program funds supporting companies associated with foreign adversaries of the United States. ###