September is a busy month in D.C. Here are some items that Congress is dealing with this month.
By Michael Kaiser
There’s no gentle way to start this column, so I’ll jump right in.
Once again, we are facing a looming federal government shutdown. Congress has only a few legislative days left this month, and that is the only time they have to keep the government open. Currently, the federal government is operating on a continuing resolution (CR) that was passed back in March. That CR kept funding levels largely where they were for the last fiscal year. We are now seeing different factions start to develop on the Hill with different ideas about what to do next about government funding. It’s the same story every fall.
Taking sides
The White House and Republican “fiscal hawks” are advocating for another CR that will carry us into January or, possibly, later into 2026 — perhaps even through the entire fiscal year. Democrats and some top Republicans want to pass a CR that runs into November (probably before Thanksgiving) to let the House and Senate Appropriation Committees have more time to reach an agreement for Fiscal Year 2026 funding levels. This could lead to an omnibus appropriations bill at the end of the year, as has happened nearly every year for the past 30. All eyes are on what Speaker of the House Johnson wants to do. Does he want to pass a package that the President favors but that is opposed by Democrats? This would only work if Senate Democrats cave and pass the bill and if Johnson is able to keep his entire caucus together.
Most, if not all, Democrats do not feel compelled to work with their Republican counterparts and this administration, particularly after the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” and the rescission package that “clawed back” funds Congress had previously appropriated (but the Trump Administration refused to spend).
There has also been a hybrid idea floated: One bill will be a full year of updated funding levels for USDA, Veteran Affairs and Congressional operations, and a separate, short-term funding patch would address the remaining nine appropriations bills. House and Senate “fiscal hawks” are in favor of a long term CR because they simply do not want to negotiate with Democrats. This approach is also favored by the White House.
If you feel like you have read this article before, it’s because you have. We go through this exercise every year, but this time there may actually be a shutdown. We will find out soon enough.
Will the Farm Bill Finally Get Done?
The Farm Bill was supposed to be completed by September 30, 2023. We are currently in the second year-long extension of it — and that’s about to expire. Many items that would have traditionally been in the farm bill were included in the “Big, Beautiful Bill” from earlier this year. However, there are other provisions that still need to be addressed in what would be considered a “skinny” farm bill.
Many agriculture groups (including WineAmerica) are urging Congress to get the rest of the Farm Bill done, but it’s not looking good. House Agriculture Committee Democrats are not looking to help the Republican counterparts out in passing the bill.
The House Ag Committee already has an outline for a Farm Bill from the version it voted on last year, but many of the policies will need updating. Many of the controversial provisions that stalled talks last year were included in the megabill that President Donald Trump signed into law in July. However, lawmakers will still need to handle some contentious issues in the Farm Bill, including how to address California’s animal welfare law Proposition 12, a hemp regulatory loophole created in the 2018 Farm Bill and pesticide provisions.
House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson (R-PA) has created some goodwill with House GOP leadership after meeting its demand for spending cuts during reconciliation negotiations, which Thompson said he hopes will garner sufficient support to get the Farm Bill across the finish line.
Come Over October Returns to Congress
WineAmerica is once again supporting Come Over October and co-hosting a reception and press conference with the Congressional Wine Caucus. The reception will take place on October 8 in Washington, D.C., and this marks the second consecutive year. WineAmerica has supported this important invitation-only industry event, demonstrating this organization’s continued commitment to fostering bipartisan support for the American wine industry.
The reception will showcase wines from across many states, celebrating the breadth, diversity and quality of American wine production from coast to coast. This comprehensive representation underscores the truly national scope of the American wine industry, which now includes 10,637 wine producers operating in every state.
WineAmerica has been an avid and early supporter of the Come Over October campaign since its inception. This organization recognizes the campaign’s vital role in building authentic connections within the wine community and promoting the social and cultural significance of wine in American life. The Come Over October campaign has achieved remarkable success, with the 2024 inaugural initiative reaching an estimated 1.7 billion unique visitor impressions and engaging more than 10 million people through diverse channels nationwide. To learn more about this grassroots effort, visit www.comeoveroctober.com.
Michael Kaiser
Michael Kaiser is executive vice president and director of government affairs at WineAmerica, which represents wineries and associations from more than 40 states. For more information about WineAmerica and how to get involved, visit www.wineamerica.org.
