I Make America January Recap

As 2024 heats up, we need your voice more than ever!

Visit the ActionHUB to take actions, rebuild your ActionTron, and make a difference. Points have been reset for the new year; will you reach the Champion Level in 2024? New actions will be added throughout the year, so make sure to check out our monthly recap emails and the Action Hub for opportunities to get involved.

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I Make America supporters share why the Farm Bill is important to them:

Ben B., Oklahoma: "The Farm Bill is super important to me as an American, but especially as a son of farmers and a resident of rural America. Farming and rural America is the backbone of our nation and the efficiencies employed there are what allow the rest of the country to focus on so many other opportunities. Lets keep America strong by supporting our farmers and the communities they live in."

Terri P., South Carolina: "I believe it is important to keep agriculture healthy in every state, to provide more food security for Americans, and reduce our dependence on foreign nations to provide the products Americans can readily grow."

Don L., California: "As an American consumer, I have access to an amazing amount of healthy and nutritious meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains. We need to support our farmers so they can continue to produce the best and safest food in the world."

State legislatures are back in session! Here are some highlights from active legislative sessions:

Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Committee on Agriculture and Tourism held a hearing on SB 778, a bill that would create sustainability grants for farmers. Farmers can use the grant to put a down payment on agricultural equipment that uses precision agriculture to decrease fossil fuel and pesticide usage.

Iowa: The House and Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairs have released their tax reform package. On Thursday, the leaders of both tax writing committees in the Legislature issued a joint press release announcing bills that will seek to make Iowa's tax climate more competitive. This legislation would immediately accelerate current income tax cuts for Tax Years 2024-2026 and lower the individual rate to 3.65% in TY 2027. From there, a Taxpayer Relief Trust and Income Tax Elimination Fund will be created that eliminates the individual tax rate by buying down the rate over time.

South Carolina: In late January, Governor Henry McMaster appointed Justin Powell to serve as South Carolina's Department of Transportation Commissioner. With this announcement, Governor McMaster announced a $2.7 billion dollar budget to improve and expand South Carolina's transportation infrastructure.

Georgia: Launched in October of 2023, the "Georgia MATCH" College Admissions Initiative allows Georgia high school students to enter their transcripts and test scores into a computerized system and automatically admits each student to state colleges, technological colleges, and state workforce training programs. This program also provides students with financial aid information and career data, such as median income, to entice students to consider careers in trade in place of the traditional college route.

Illinois: HB 3250 would require the State Board of Education to create and maintain a comprehensive training program in advanced manufacturing to ensure an adequate supply of trained and skilled individuals to work in the industry was introduced by the Illinois Legislature. If passed, school districts may include advanced manufacturing education as part of their curriculum. The bill will have a hearing on February 6th.

West Virginia: HB 5162 seeks to establish a program to promote the creation and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs throughout West Virginia to address workforce shortages. The program would lower the apprenticeship eligibility age to 17 and expand apprenticeship eligibility. The bill has been assigned to the House Workforce Development Committee and has not yet received a hearing date.

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