Their time has come to shine
Jan 06, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC -- The 118th Congress of the United States convened this week on Tuesday, January 3. The Senate is now firmly controlled by Democrats who have a 51-49 margin. The House continues attempting to organize as the election for a Speaker is now in its fourth day.
Republicans narrowly took control of the House of Representatives, with a margin of 222 seats to the Democrats’ 213 seats in the chamber of 435 members. The House is not able to officially form and technically no Members have been sworn in yet since the body has not selected a Speaker. Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was overwhelmingly nominated as Speaker by the Republican Conference, however, with such a slim majority, a small group of Republican holdout Members are blocking his ascension to the powerful post.
It is presumed Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA) will serve as Majority Leader and Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) will serve as Minority Leader. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) is slated to become chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, and Representative David Scott (D-GA) will be the ranking member. The House will name other key committee leaders as organization continues.
Leadership in the Senate remains unchanged with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as Majority Leader and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as Minority Leader.
Additionally, Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and John Boozman (R-AR) remain at the helm for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry as chair and ranking member, respectively. Senator Stabenow announced this week that she will not seek reelection in 2024. Other key committee leaders will be announced in the coming weeks as the upper chamber continues to organize.
A major piece of legislation for the agriculture community – the Farm Bill – will need to be reauthorized this Congress as the 2018 bill expires this year.
Regardless of a divided government, bipartisanship will be required to move must-pass legislation, such as annual Federal appropriations, and other bills through both chambers and on to the President’s desk in order to become law.
“USA Rice congratulates all of the returning and newly elected Members of Congress, and we look forward to working with them throughout the next two years,” said Jamison Cruce, USA Rice senior director of government affairs. “It is our hope that much good work will be accomplished, including a successful reauthorization of the Farm Bill that will include much-needed improvements, particularly to the Price Loss Coverage program, for U.S. rice farmers and our industry.”