Good afternoon, On Friday, Senator Dianne Feinstein, our nation's longest-serving female senator, passed away. Sen. Feinstein dedicated her life to serving the people of California and this country, and her impact can be felt in communities around the world. She was a <a href="[link removed]">trailblazer</a> for women in politics, not only breaking barriers for women in politics but also mentoring and extending friendship to those who followed in her footsteps. OCP founder Heidi Heitkamp joined <a href="[link removed]">ABC News</a> to remember Sen. Feinstein's life, legacy, and humanity.
ONE CRISIS AVERTED, AT LEAST TWELVE TO GO
At the eleventh hour, as flags around DC flew at half-mast in honor of the late Sen. Feinstein, Congress averted a government shutdown and passed a continuing resolution to keep the wheels on the bus for 45 more days. That means Congress has 45 days to figure out how to do what they couldn't in nearly nine months, and pass 12 different appropriations bills.
We'll be keeping an eye on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bill, but first, the wheels on the bus have to go around (again) and elect a new Speaker of the House after <a href="[link removed].">Kevin McCarthy was ousted</a>.
LIVING AND WORKING IN RURAL AMERICA
While Congress did manage to avoid a shutdown, they did not manage to renew the Farm Bill, which lapsed on Saturday. The Ag-FDA appropriations bill will take priority, pushing focus on the Farm Bill to later this year. Even then, it's more likely that the Farm Bill gets an extension, rather than a full renewal.
Rural Americans deserve better. The Farm Bill touches many aspects of rural life, and reauthorization provides an opportunity to reimagine rural policy. For too long, de-prioritization of rural communities has deprived them of essential services that other parts of the country enjoy, so that where you live determines your quality of life.
Rural areas too often overlap with health care and childcare deserts, and residents struggle to care for themselves and their families while holding on to a job. Living in <a href="[link removed]">one of only seven countries</a> without national paid maternity leave, or another form of paid family leave, American workers lose an estimated <a href="[link removed]">$22.5 billion</a> in wages every year when they need to serve as caregivers to their families.
In order to ensure that rural Americans have the tools and resources they need to stay healthy, raise a family, and still go to work, OCP proposes creating a <a href="[link removed]">Family and Medical Leave Yearly (FAMLY) program</a>, a 12-week paid family and medical leave policy, in the Farm Bill.
The FAMLY program would improve worker retention for employers, increase productivity, and provide an overall increase in workforce participation, boosting rural economies' productivity. <a href="[link removed]">Read more about Living and Working in Rural America here.</a>
PAID FAMILY LEAVE HOT DISH
On last week's episode of the Hot Dish podcast, Forbes Tate Partner Doug Usher joined Heidi Heitkamp to discuss <a href="[link removed]">OCP's latest poll results</a> that revealed widespread support (78%) for a national paid family leave policy amongst Wisconsin voters.
Christine Levi, a mother of two, discussed the importance of paid family leave for working parents. Christine was a paycheck-to-paycheck worker who had no choice but to return to work shortly after giving birth to her daughter because her employer at the time did not offer paid leave. She said, "It was the hardest thing I think I had ever experienced. I missed out on so many moments with the baby, with learning who she is or who she was at the time."
Bipartisan Policy Center fellow Adrienne Schweer said, "caregiving is a silent struggle that you do on your own, like the millions and generations before you. We have to start talking about it. You must start telling more people about how hard it is to balance work and family and asking for policies like paid leave from your employer... and from your elected officials." <a href="[link removed]">Listen here.</a>
CHILDCARE CLIFF
September 30 was a big day - not only did it mark the end of the fiscal year and the expiration of the Farm Bill, but also the expiration of pandemic-era childcare provisions.
Much like the lack of paid family leave, the lack of affordable childcare forces <a href="[link removed]">working parents out of the labor market</a>. The end of American Rescue Plan Act childcare funding will cut over <a href="[link removed]">three million children</a> off from care, compelling parents to stay home, and cost states <a href="[link removed]">$10.6 billion</a> in lost tax and business revenue from reduced productivity.
While women have played a <a href="[link removed].">major role</a> in the post-pandemic recovery by boosting labor force participation, those employment gains are now at risk, particularly in rural areas: <a href="[link removed]">six in ten rural Americans</a> live in a childcare desert.
Some states are scrambling to ensure childcare facilities stay open, but without a permanent solution, rural businesses, families, and the American workforce will be dealt a <a href="[link removed]">significant economic blow</a>.
ONE COUNTRY IN THE NEWS
Food & Environment Reporting Network's Ag Insider: <a href="[link removed]">Farm bill should offer three months of paid family leave, says Democrat-leaning group</a>
One Country Project: <a href="[link removed]">Blog: Congress must protect rural access to emergency room care</a>
ICYMI
WIBW: <a href="[link removed]">Kansas children spared effects of poverty, food insecurity during pandemic</a>
Illinois Farmer Today: <a href="[link removed]">‘Care deserts' lacking physicians food more abundant in rural areas</a>
Iowa Capital Dispatch: <a href="[link removed]">Under ‘Medicaid reform,' rural Iowans need to learn not to get sick</a>
Anchorage Daily News: <a href="[link removed]">One of America's reddest states wants 100% green energy - if dams count as green</a>
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