On Monday, the Senate GOP introduced the Health Economic Assistance Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act, the latest coronavirus aid package.
The package includes another round of $1,200 stimulus checks, increased funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, more small business aid and an additional $20 billion to the USDA to help farmers and ranchers.
The $20 billion for ag has few restrictions and can broadly be used for any sort of coronavirus response for growers, producers and processors.
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall praised the priority leadership place on the agriculture sector.
“We are grateful to Leader McConnell and Senate Leadership for placing a high priority on bringing relief to America’s farmers and ranchers throughout this crisis. The additional $20 billion for agriculture in the HEALS Act would come at a critical time as the impact of this pandemic continues to hit our farms and rural communities.
“America’s farmers and ranchers and the men and women who work alongside us have answered the call as an essential industry in keeping our nation’s food supply secure. Farmers and ranchers have faced difficult decisions and shown great ingenuity and perseverance to keep their farms running, all while being met with steep challenges as markets and supply chains rapidly react to unprecedented changes. We all depend on our nation’s farms and ranches hanging on through this crisis.
“We look forward to continuing our work with Congress and the Administration to protect the well-being of our critical workforce, our rural communities and our country through a secure food supply.”