2022: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The Lower Food And Fuel Costs Act. In June 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the "Cammack, R-Fla., motion to recommit the bill to the House Agriculture Committee." The vote was on a motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 206-218. [House Vote 276, 6/16/22; Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7606]
2022: Schweikert Missed a vote on The Lower Food And Fuel Costs Act. In June 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert missed a vote on the "adoption of the rule (H Res 1170) for [...] the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act (HR 7606)." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 218-204. [House Vote 260, 6/14/22; Congressional Quarterly, 6/14/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7606; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 1170]
2022: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The Lower Food And Fuel Costs Act. In June 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 1170) for [...] the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act (HR 7606)." The vote was on a motion to order the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 216-199. [House Vote 259, 6/14/22; Congressional Quarterly, 6/14/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7606; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 1170]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against Providing $700 Million In Supplemental FY 2023 Funds To The Agriculture Department For Activities To Lower Food Costs, Reduce Fuel Costs, Expand Livestock And Poultry Processing, And Address Food And Agriculture Supply Chain Issues. In June 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which would "provide $700 million in supplemental fiscal 2023 appropriations and authorize or require various Agriculture Department activities to reduce food production costs; support biofuel infrastructure upgrades to reduce fuel costs; expand livestock and poultry processing capacities; and address supply chain resilience in the food and agriculture sectors." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 221-204, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 277, 6/16/22; Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7606]
$500 Million Would Be Reserved To Pay Certain Producers To Implement Crop Nutrient Management Practices Or Precision Agriculture Practices, And Modify Existing Conversation Programs To Provide Additional Support, Such As Loans, To Farmers And Ranchers To Implement Precision Agriculture Practices And Procure Technology. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Within supplemental appropriations, it would provide $500 million for additional payments to producers under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to implement crop nutrient management practices or precision agriculture practices, which use new technologies to increase crop yields or decrease needed inputs such as land, fertilizer and herbicides. It would also modify existing USDA conservation programs to provide additional support, including loans and loan guarantees, for farmers and ranchers to adopt precision agriculture practices and acquire related technology." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/22]
The Bill Would Authorize $120 Million Annually Through FY 2025 For Agriculture Department Loans, Loan Guarantees And Grants For Public And Private Entities To Expand Livestock Capacities And Promote Local And Interstate Sales. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would also authorize $120 million annually through fiscal 2025 for USDA loans, loan guarantees and grants for public and private entities to expand and diversify livestock or poultry processing capabilities and promote local and interstate sales by meeting relevant regulatory standards." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/22]
The Bill Would Create A Special Investigator's Office In The Agriculture Department To Prosecute Violations Of Competition And Trade Practices By Packers And Poultry Dealers. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would establish a USDA special investigator's office to investigate and prosecute violations of competition and trade practices by packers and live poultry dealers and consult with the Homeland Security Department on security issues in the food and agriculture sector." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/22]
The Bill Would Address Supply Chain Issues By Authorizing $100 Million For Grants And Loans To Address Fertilizer Shortages, Establish At Least Six Supply Chain Regional Resource Centers, And Establishing A Temporary Task Force On Food System Supply Chain Resilience And Crisis Response. According to Congressional Quarterly, "To address supply chain issues, it would authorize $100 million for grants, loans and other assistance to address fertilizer shortages, including by reducing dependence on foreign sources and supporting efficient and sustainable fertilizer use; direct the USDA to establish at least six Supply Chain Regional Resource Centers to provide grants and assistance to small- and medium-sized agricultural producers and businesses to address supply chain challenges; and require the USDA to establish a temporary food system supply chain resilience and crisis response task force." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/22]
The Provision That Would Establish A Special Agriculture Department Investigator Was A Bipartisan Effort To Address The Monopolies In The Beef Market, In Which Four Companies Control Over 80% Of Beef Processing, But There Was Disagreement Over The Need For Federal Action. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The House voted 221-204 to send to the Senate a legislative package (HR 7606) that incorporated a bill by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., that would set up a special Agriculture Department investigator with subpoena powers and the ability to file civil lawsuits or take administrative actions against violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by meatpacking companies and live poultry dealers. The bill would establish an Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters. The investigator bill is part of a bipartisan effort in the House and Senate to address consolidation of the beef market in which four companies control more than 80 percent of the processing. But there is broader disagreement in agriculture and in Congress about the need for federal action and the scope of such action." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/22]