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Cotton growers seek financial assistance, Buy American Cotton Act in Senate budget package

The U.S. cotton industry is asking the chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee to include financial assistance for cotton farmers in its budget reconciliation framework.

In a letter to Ron Johnson, the National Cotton Council says it supports the recently approved U.S. House budget resolution, and hopes the U.S. Senate will provide a directive to the Senate Ag Committee that matches or exceeds the House’s $12 billion reconciliation directive for farmer assistance.

The council also asks the committee to include a directive allowing the Senate Finance Committee to add the Buy American Cotton Act to the reconciliation package. The council acknowledges changes to the House-passed budget framework won’t be easy but says doing so could help strengthen the long-term future of the U.S. cotton industry.

The U.S. House recently approved a budget resolution, which kicks off the budget reconciliation process. Now, the U.S. Senate is developing its own budget framework.  

The letter was copied to President Trump, some of the Trump administration and other leaders in U.S. Congress.