WASHINGTON, DC -- Earlier today, after more than 24 hours of non-stop action in the U.S. House of Representatives, Speaker Mike Johnson and White House leadership helped secure passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) by a vote of 218-214.
USA Rice applauds the monumental passage of The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that, thanks to Senate Ag Chair John Boozman (R-AR) and House Ag Chair GT Thompson (R-PA), includes meaningful improvements to the farm safety net for American rice farmers and many other agricultural conservation, trade, and research investments. Additionally, House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) and Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-ID) fought to include significant tax benefits that will provide immediate relief for rice farmers, some of which will be permanent.
Texas rice farmer and chair of the USA Rice Farmers Board of Directors L.G. Raun said, “Since 2022, USA Rice has helped to lead the charge in Washington among commodity groups and agriculture associations to increase reference prices for the Price Loss Coverage Program, the cornerstone of the rice farmer safety net. Our current farm safety net is based upon production datacompiled in 2012 and has fallen short in the economic environment we’ve experienced since 2020. The improvements in this legislation mean that another generation of rice family farmers have hope, as do our millers, merchants, and allied businesses. We cannot thank House Speaker Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Thune as well as our champions in Congress enough for their unwavering support to improve and reauthorize these critical Farm Bill programs.”
The bill is expected to be signed into law tomorrow, symbolically on America’s Independence Day, at 5:00 p.m. ET by President Trump. USA Rice will issue a comprehensive breakdown of how the bill helps the U.S. rice industry next week.