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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution by a vote of 85 to 11 today, extending current government funding levels for three months, authorizing a one-year farm bill extension, and securing vital farm and disaster aid. The legislation, which extends appropriations levels through March 14, passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 366 to 34.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the legislation:

“While the passage of the bill is obviously important to avoid a government shutdown and of course to pass some priorities for North Dakota, it had better be the last time we do it this way. This is not how you should run the legislative branch and our constituents deserve a lot better than this incompetence and this dysfunction that we’ve seen these last few days and hours. I look forward to new leadership in Congress when Republicans become the majority in the Senate and Donald Trump occupies the White House.”

This package includes funding and authorizations to support programs and initiatives benefitting North Dakota and the nation. The following provisions are included in the package:

Extends the 2018 Farm Bill, Provides Economic Assistance for Farmers

The continuing resolution extends the 2018 Farm Bill for one year, giving Congress another year to provide farmers and ranchers with a much-needed, new, and improved Farm Bill with an adequate farm safety net. This extension protects critical commodity programs which provide financial support to producers in the event of price or revenue declines, extends trade facilitation programs designed to expand markets for American crops, and continues providing specialty crop block grants to state departments of agriculture.

This bill provides substantial financial relief for farmers impacted by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. It authorizes nearly $31 billion for agricultural aid, including $21 billion for the Emergency Relief Program for agricultural losses due to natural disaster in 2023 and 2024, and $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers to account for low commodity prices and high interest rates. This funding includes $2 billion set aside for livestock losses due to drought, wildfires, and floods, $828 million for the Emergency Conservation Program to rehabilitate damaged farmland, and $920 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program to address flood and erosion damages. The legislation also directs $362.5 million toward rural development disaster assistance to help rebuild infrastructure in rural communities and allocates $220 million in state block grants to support disaster recovery efforts.

Provides Disaster Aid

It’s been a difficult year, particularly for citizens in the southeast who experienced Hurricane Milton and Helen. In response to recent flooding, wildfires, and other natural disasters, this funding measure provides $100 billion in disaster relief assistance and includes allocations for infrastructure repair and rebuilding. Nearly $29 billion will go to the disaster relief fund at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with $8 billion allocated towards rebuilding highways and bridges, and $2.2 billion to low-interest loans for businesses to assist in recovery. 

Secures Key National Defense Provisions

As the U.S. Navy seeks to strengthen the submarine industrial base, this legislation supports nearly $5.7 billion for the Virginia-class submarine program and for workforce, wage, and non-executive salary improvements for other nuclear-powered vessel programs. Additionally, it provides funding for the Columbia-class submarine program, with $3 billion for the regular procurement of Columbia-class submarines, and almost $6 billion for advanced procurement. As Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Seapower, Cramer has championed legislation and initiatives to bolster the Navy’s capabilities.