As Americans Decry Congressional Priorities, Some Remain Focused

WASHINGTON, DC – For many Americans, our nation’s capital brings a sense of disappointment, frustration, and even anger, as a new CNN poll says two-thirds of registered voters – both Democrats and Republicans – say Congress is not paying enough attention to the most important problems in our country.

The cable news network reports that the most important problems on voters’ minds are the economy and inflation. So, why aren’t members of Congress listening?

Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04) is a former professor at Purdue University, a farmer, and a member of the House Agriculture Committee. He says those issues are the top concerns in his district and cites additional issues affecting agriculture and rural America. Unfortunately, we rarely hear from these voices because the national media focuses on controversy and the proverbial “dumpster fires.” In other words, they are looking for the next sensational story that draws viewers or clicks.

Baird, a Republican, is not the only one in the Minority that is focused on these issues. Another farmer and member of the Ag Committee is Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16). He explains that certain ag products are experiencing depressed prices (i.e., almonds and sweet potatoes) due to problems unearthed during the pandemic. As supply chains became kinked and even broke, the spotlight found problems we didn’t know existed. Now, as producers of these crops beg for assistance in getting containers and trucks to deliver the product, rail access, and a berth on a ship returning to an export country, Costa agrees the recent decision to invest in infrastructure will be a long-term benefit. So what about the short-term?

The issue of short-term problems eventually becomes a major issue. That’s why Rep. John Rose (TN-06), a farmer and businessman from east-central Tennessee, points to a regulatory environment on steroids. In the past few months, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) formally announced its intention to implement an ESG rule. If codified, this would force every American corporation to assess their business’s impact on the climate. This would, in turn, force suppliers of services and raw goods to certifying the impact of the business activities on the climate. Another way to read this is that farmers and ranchers would be forced to determine whether their operations meet climate standards to continue selling their crops and products to others. Rose agrees that most farmers don’t have the time for more regulatory oversight, much less a reliable method to gather the information.

So, some might argue that none of these topics are getting at the heart of voters’ top concerns, but in essence, it uncovers an unpopular story in today’s headlines. For the most part, Congressional members are trying to solve the most important problems facing the nation today while trying to avert potential problems down the road. However, many Americans fail to read this far into an article and therefore miss the most important work that few in the national media spotlight will report.

For that reason, All Ag, All Day travels to Washington, DC, twice every year to uncover these stories through one-on-one interviews with Congressional members you may never have heard of before as part of the DC Capitol Ag Tour. Follow the developments of the Ag Tour with Tony St. James on the Farm Station (900AM) or online at www.AllAgNews.com. In addition, the interviews and videos are shared nationwide with other broadcasters who aim to share similar information with their audience.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)