FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mike Lavender

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

mlavender@sustainableagriculture.net 

Tel. 734.417.8710

Comment: NSAC Laments Senate’s Passage of Budget Reconciliation 

Washington, DC, July 1, 2025 –– The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued the following comment, attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, following the Senate’s 51-50 approval – with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the deciding vote – of its version of budget reconciliation legislation.

“NSAC is deeply disappointed that the Senate has voted to approve a reconciliation bill that ignores the needs of the vast majority of American farmers and the communities they call home while providing billions for programs that only benefit a select few, all at the expense of programs that support nutrition access for hungry people. By excluding farm loans, rural development, new market opportunities, research, and more, the Senate bill chooses to take a narrow view of agriculture. We applaud Senator Grassley’s initiative in support of an ‘actively engaged’ amendment to ensure that commodity subsidies only go to farmers with ‘dirt under their fingernails.’ Unfortunately, the exclusion of this provision fits with the theme of the bill – small and mid-sized family farms and their communities are left to fend for themselves amidst an environment of uncertainty.”

Stay tuned to the NSAC blog for analysis soon on the final budget reconciliation bill.