USRPA Calls for Action on Impending Port Strike

On Wednesday, USRPA joined 55 other agriculture organizations in urging President Biden to take action to ensure operations continue at the Eastern and Gulf ports. A labor strike could begin next week as the negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance remain at a standstill. The current labor agreement between the parties is set to expire at midnight on September 30. The letter notes that 40% of containerized agricultural exports go through the ports that may be impacted in the coming days and cautions that failure to reach an agreement will impact agricultural and food supply chains. A copy of the letter can be found here.

Appropriations Update

On Wednesday, the House and Senate both approved a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 20. The bill also included an additional $321 million in funding for the Secret Service. Having avoided a government shutdown ahead of the September 30 deadline, Congress has now recessed and members are returning to their districts ahead of November’s election. When Congress returns for the lame-duck session, they will have a number of items to work through, including FY2025 appropriations and either passing a new farm bill or an extension to the existing law.