Happy Halloween!

What a spooky season it has been! House Republicans – now led by Speaker MAGA Mike Johnson (R-La) – are staring down November 17, the day the continuing resolution to fund the government expires. Getting 12 appropriations bills passed in the next 17 days will take some serious political magic! And while some might be haunted by predecessor Kevin McCarthy's fate, Speaker Johnson plans to add to his to-do list securing cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act's IRS funding to offset the cost of funding the Biden Administration's $105 billion emergency national security funding request. This plan is already sowing discord within the Republican party and would be dead on arrival in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Speaking of the Senate, they are currently wrapping up the first three-bill FY2024 spending package, which includes Agriculture-FDA appropriations. The House version of the usually uncontroversial bill is still tied up in debate. The sticking point? An amendment to ban mailing the abortion pill mifepristone, which has had FDA approval since 2000, but has come under scrutiny following the Dobbs decision. Democrats as well as moderate Republicans oppose the ban, but Johnson is firmly anti-choice, having called for the overturning of Roe v. Wade – a decision that has greatly reduced women's health, especially in red states and rural areas. Spooky stuff...

FARM TO LUNCH TABLE

• A new U.S. Department of Agriculture report released last Wednesday found that 17 million households had problems finding enough food in 2022, affecting 44.2 million people, including 13.4 million children.

• This is a rural American horror story: rural households were harder hit by food insecurity, with 14.7 percent of households in rural areas versus 12.5 percent of urban households experiencing food insecurity.

• Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduced the Farm to School Act to expand the farm-to-school program, increase access to fresh, locally grown foods for students as well as support farms and rural communities throughout the country—which could bolster both food security and regional economies.

• The 2018 Farm Bill, which provided vital food assistance to over 40 million Americans, expired amidst the September 30 frenzy to keep the government funded. 60 Republicans asked Johnson to prioritize swift passage of the Farm Bill during this Congress.
   
• We concur and hope Congress moves past its politicking hocus-pocus and prioritizes rural America's challenges and future into focus. Earlier this year, OCP released a series of policy proposals designed to better enable rural Americans to secure a strong farming foundation, preserve the rural way of life, and make rural America's economy viable and vibrant today and tomorrow via the Farm Bill. Read more here.

DOUBLE WHAMMY: INTEREST RATES AND EXTREME WEATHER CHALLENGE THE RURAL ECONOMY

• Rural farmers are facing a slew of challenges. Ongoing interest rate hikes are placing further financial pressure on farmers as the cost of lending increases. On the latest episode of The Hot Dish, Heidi spoke with Brad Nordholm, the President and CEO of Farmer Mac, about the unprecedented interest rate challenges facing farmers today, which are decreasing capital investment and pinching net farm income.

• Prices aren't the only thing rising in rural America: in the coming decades, global warming will force farmers to find new ways to adapt to increasing heat. Joel spoke to ICF climate scientist Dr. Mason Fried about his new report on the economic impacts of rising temperatures in rural America, especially the Plains, California, and Texas. Listen here.

REMINDER: MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR 2024 COVERAGE

Seniors and families, NOW is the time to ensure your 2024 health care needs will be covered by selecting the plan that best fits your needs. Medicare Open Enrollment lasts until December 7. Explore your coverage options here.

SHARE YOUR RURAL HEALTH CARE STORY

Rural America faces unique health care challenges. One Country wants to raise awareness with policymakers in Washington, DC through first-person testimonials by rural residents. Tell us your story and help us improve health care access in rural America.

LOOKING AHEAD

• Tomorrow, President Biden and his administration will kick off an Investing in Rural America Event Series, highlighting their efforts to bring new revenue to farms, increase rural economic development, and open opportunities throughout the country through the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and the IRA. How will these policies made in Washington impact rural communities in the short and long-term? Learn more here

• OCP board member and Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels joined Capitol Journal to discuss his child care tax credit proposal and a possible run for Congress in Alabama's new 2nd Congressional District.

• The Washington Post: Opinion | Wisconsin Dems' big wins for the rule of law might be an inflection point
• KFYR: Predicted primary care physician shortage could cause more problems for rural areas
• NC Newsline: Crisis in children's mental health takes a heavy toll in rural southeastern NC
• Minnesota Reformer: Minnesota moms bear the brunt of the child care shortage