Does not matter: Democrats inviting Republicans to infrastructure talks — Farm labor bill returns to House floor

Mar 15, 2021

With help from Gavin Bade

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Quick Fix

— Negotiating an infrastructure package with Republicans is next on House Democrats' to-do list. Rural advocates want to see a big boost for their struggling communities.

— The bipartisan agriculture labor bill that passed in the previous Congressional session is getting a second vote in the House this week.

— At the hyped-up U.S.-China meeting in a few days, one important topic won't be discussed: trade.

HAPPY MONDAY, MARCH 15! Welcome to your Weekly Agriculture report, where your host highly recommends Floret Flower's new show chronicling their Washington flower farm. Send tips to lcrampton@politico.com and @liz_crampton, and follow us @Morning_Ag.

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DRIVING THE WEEK

NEXT UP, INFRASTRUCTURE: Now that President Joe Biden on Friday signed the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package into law — and $l,400 checks are already flowing into many Americans' bank accounts — Democrats are eyeing their next Congressional feat: passing major infrastructure legislation. This time, they hope to have Republican support.

Reaching across the aisle: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday that she has instructed committee chairs to begin outreach to their Republican counterparts on upcoming legislation, reports POLITICO's Jesse Naranjo. Republican buy-in will be key as Democrats hold slim majorities in both the House and Senate.

An infrastructure proposal could be huge for rural communities where crumbling bridges, roads, broadband and buildings are most often in need of repair. A coalition of ag and rural groups urged Biden in January to not forget rural areas when designing an infrastructure plan, noting that the deterioration of rural America "jeopardizes jobs, our agricultural competitiveness and the health of rural families."

FARM LABOR BILL RETURNS TO HOUSE FLOOR: The House this week is set to vote again on a sweeping farm labor bill that would provide a path to legal status for many of the nation's farmworkers. H.R. 1603, spearheaded by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (R-Calif.) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), would also make it easier for farmers to hire employees through the H-2A foreign guestworker program.

Your turn, Senate: The bill is widely expected to pass after it earned bipartisan support in the previous session of Congress. But the Senate let the bill die — and so far, no Senators have stepped up to introduce a similar measure this go-around.

SNAP EXPANSION MAY BE HERE TO STAY: Democratic lawmakers are looking to lock down some of the provisions in the sweeping Covid relief package, betting that some of the benefits will be "so popular that letting them expire would be a political nightmare," reports POLITICO's Megan Cassella.

Top of the list will be making the expanded child tax credit permanent. But there could also be a push to cement the 15 percent increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, which is currently extended through September.

Republican grumblings: During negotiations, Republicans complained that Democrats hijacked the American Rescue Plan to accomplish some of their major policy goals that they argue are unrelated to the pandemic, all to the detriment of the federal deficit. Expect that to be their main argument against securing some of these benefits.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that the $1.9 trillion plan could more than double in cost once various programs are made permanent or extended beyond their current expiration dates.

Note: The SNAP boost is not all that's in there for food assistance. Check out this analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

HAPPENING THURSDAY - PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN : The GOP has not won a statewide election in New York in nearly two decades. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), an ally of former President Donald Trump, is one of several Republicans considering a challenge against embattled New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Join Playbook co-authors Tara Palmeri and Ryan Lizza for a conversation with Rep. Zeldin to discuss a potential gubernatorial run and how he is working with Democrats in Congress. REGISTER HERE.

Trade Corner

TRADE NOT ON THE TABLE WITH CHINA...YET: National Security Advisor Jake Sullian said Friday that the U.S. does not plan to focus on trade with China when senior officials from the countries gather for their first in-person meeting this week, reports POLITICO's Steven Overly.

Yet trade insiders in D.C. aren't worried about their issues falling down the priority list. The Senate has yet to confirm Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai, they point out, which could happen as early as this week. The administration likely wants to avoid talking specifics on trade until Tai is in place, especially given concerns in D.C. trade circles that longtime Biden aides like Sullivan and Blinken could box the White House newcomer out of policymaking.

Katherine Tai, nominee for U.S. trade representative, speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, in Washington.

Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai. | Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via AP, Pool

But the GOP wants trade talks soon. Republican trade leaders say economic conversations should begin in earnest. House Ways and Means Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas) on Friday urged Biden's team to push for "full compliance" with the phase one trade deal and quickly "move on to serious negotiations about phase two."

Row Crops

— A majority of Iowans, including a third of Republicans, hope U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley decides not to seek reelection in 2022, POLITICO's Jesse Naranjo reports. Grassley would be 95 at the end of another Senate term.

— Archer Daniels Midland Co. has agreed to a $45 million settlement with peanut farmers over collusion and price-fixing allegations, reports our Anna Kambhampaty.

— The Environmental Protection Agency's 2018 dicamba registration renewal was "tainted by political interference and ignored important science on the herbicide's risks," per an internal email obtained by DTN Progressive Farmer.

— Hispanic workers at meatpacking plants in Iowa had the highest rate of coronavirus infections, making up about 44 percent of cases, per the Des Moines Register.

— Vertical farms are popping up more and more in Ohio, reports the Columbus Dispatch.

THAT'S ALL FOR MA! Drop us a line: rmccrimmon@politico.com; hbottemiller@politico.com; lcrampton@politico.com; jyearwood@politico.com and pjoshi@politico.com.