[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 29, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S4786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Agriculture

  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, the last few years have been some of the 
most challenging in recent memory for America's farmers and ranchers. 
Agriculture is already a challenging way of life, but in the past few 
years, it has been made more difficult by higher input costs, higher 
interest rates, disease, and natural disasters; and it has left more 
than a few producers wondering about the future of their operations.
  Earlier this year, I promised that farmers and ranchers would be a 
priority for the new Republican majority. Thanks to Senator Boozman's 
leadership and the work of the Agriculture Committee, we have addressed 
some of the farmers' and ranchers' challenges head-on in the One Big 
Beautiful Bill--and not just with short-term patches to get through the 
season. We made lasting reforms to help get American agriculture firing 
on all cylinders again.
  Madam President, that starts with the farm safety net. The One Big 
Beautiful Bill reauthorizes commodity programs through 2031 and raises 
reference prices for every covered commodity. In recent years, 
reference prices haven't even covered increases in input costs. But 
thanks to this bill, commodity program reference prices will more 
closely reflect the actual market conditions that farmers are dealing 
with.
  We also included a voluntary base acre update for these programs--the 
first in a number of years--making 30 million acres available so these 
programs are based on current planted acres. That is just on commodity 
programs.
  The One Big Beautiful Bill also bolsters crop insurance, the 
cornerstone of the farm safety net. And it includes my bill to extend 
crop insurance support for beginning farmers from their first 5 years 
of operation to their first 10 years.
  We also addressed the needs of livestock producers. We improved the 
Livestock Indemnity Program, covering 100 percent of losses for animals 
lost to predation and 75 percent for those lost due to weather or 
disease, plus a supplemental payment for loss of unborn livestock, all 
of which will provide peace of mind for ranchers and other livestock 
producers when losses strike.
  We also reduced the number of weeks of drought necessary to trigger 
payments from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. Now those payments 
can begin after 4 consecutive weeks of drought, and they continue if 
the drought persists into a second month.
  Our bill makes critical investments in disease prevention and 
preparedness efforts, an issue that has been national news as things 
like the bird flu, the New World screwworm, and African swine fever 
have threatened livestock.
  There is a lot more in our bill to support agriculture and promote a 
strong and secure food supply for our country.
  The One Big Beautiful Bill bolsters the Dairy Margin Coverage program 
for our dairy farmers. It improves support for honeybee producers when 
they suffer losses; invests in conservation programs that support 
wildlife habitats, like those that support South Dakota's wild bird 
population. And it supports research and agriculture research 
institutions and promotes trade opportunities for agriculture 
commodities.
  This bill enables farmers and ranchers to make critical investments 
in the future of their operations. Agriculture producers will benefit 
from the individual and small business tax relief in this bill.
  Our bill makes permanent the lower tax rates from the Tax Cuts and 
Jobs Act, increases the standard deduction and the child tax credit, 
and adds a bonus deduction for seniors, which means lower tax bills 
permanently.
  Many farmers and ranchers will be able to claim the 199A small 
business deduction, which frees up more cash for them to invest in 
their operations. Plus, full expensing--now a permanent feature of the 
Tax Code--will allow them to deduct the full cost of new equipment the 
year they start using it. That is good news, whether you need a new 
tractor or combine or working to build a farm of the future with 
precision technology.
  Madam President, farming and ranching is more than just a job; it is 
a way of life. And most farmers and ranchers I know dream about the 
next generation keeping that way of life going. Thanks to the One Big 
Beautiful Bill, more farmers and ranchers are going to be able to stay 
in the family. Our bill raises the death tax threshold, which protects 
a lot more farmers and ranchers from this flawed tax. It means farmers 
and ranchers won't have to worry about the death tax eating up what 
they spent a lifetime building. It means they won't have to spend time 
and money on complicated estate planning to ensure their operation 
stays intact after they die. And it means their kids won't have to sell 
all or part of their family farm just to settle a tax bill.
  Madam President, agriculture is a tough way of life. It is filled 
with uncertainty and risk. But we depend on the men and women who work 
hard every day to produce the food, fuel, and fiber for America and for 
the world, and we owe them support through the challenges that come 
with this work. I am proud that the One Big Beautiful Bill delivers for 
them.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.