Sen. Boozman on Farm Policy, Rural Health Care & Trade in Arkansas

Congress approved many programs typically included in a Farm Bill in the One?Big Beautiful Bill?Act. How will these updates help Arkansas?

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) delivers some of the most historic investments in the farm economy in decades.?While most of the farm policies included in the bill have been part of the traditional Farm Bill, reconciliation was the legislative vehicle that allowed for this type of urgent investment in farm programs, crop insurance, trade, research, animal health and other important initiatives for rural Arkansas.

For Natural State farmers, and producers nationwide, it costs more to grow a crop than they will receive for it. I’ve met routinely with the Arkansas Farm Bureau, Agriculture Council of Arkansas and other agriculture leaders from across the state. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing from hardworking farmers across the country in traveling to their respective states and in testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee. They all called for improvements to the farm safety net. The OBBBA delivers that. We modernized the farm safety net to better protect against economic uncertainty and market volatility to ensure the families can continue their multigenerational legacy and continue to grow our nation’s food, fuel and fiber.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act enhances risk management tools for producers of row crops, livestock, specialty crops, honeybees and aquaculture.?It expands access to more affordable crop insurance while making it more responsive to risk.?These policies are wins that benefit producers of all sizes, of all crops, across all regions.

We were able to accomplish these improvements along with additional investments in agricultural research, trade promotion programs, conservation and our animal health infrastructure.

In conversations with Arkansas poultry producers, we learned it would be valuable to have the option to purchase insurance to protect against the unexpected. We are proud to provide the tools necessary to establish a pilot program so?poultry growers will have access to an insurance policy protecting against extreme weather-related risk resulting in increased utility costs associated with poultry production.

The OBBBA is a good product for our farm community and is the result of input from Arkansas farmers. A strong rural America benefits us all and paves the way?to a bright?future?for new?generations of farmers. These policies put us on that path.

What are the next steps and a timeline for passing a new Farm Bill?

While many Farm Bill provisions were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that was just the beginning. I’m committed to advancing overdue policy improvements in a Farm Bill that remain to be advanced. We need to get it done by the end of the year and certainly the sooner the better.

There are many other provisions important to rural Arkansas to be addressed, including increasing loan limits and enhancing quality of life by improving access to rural broadband. Arkansans need access to quality, high-speed broadband no matter where they live. The Farm Bill will help bridge the digital divide that exists between many urban and rural areas. This is critical to access health care, online learning, e-commerce, precision agriculture and even remote jobs, among others. It is a priority of mine to see these included.

We will continue conversations with members of the Senate Agriculture Committee about their priorities, and I’ve met with my counterpart in the House, Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa. We are committed to finding a way forward to deliver this to the president’s desk. The good news is the Farm Bill has traditionally had bipartisan support. I look forward to working with ranking member Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and all members of the committee to deliver strong wins throughout the Farm Bill this Congress.

How will tariffs impact the Arkansas agriculture industry?

The ability to export is the lifeblood of agriculture, especially in Arkansas, where a large share of what we grow is sold overseas. That’s why our farmers are understandably concerned about retaliatory tariffs and looking for certainty.

Arkansas producers have shown tremendous patience, and I know they’re eager for expanded access to existing key markets and access to new markets. This is clearly a priority for President Donald Trump. The administration has made significant progress with several important trading partners, including a new trade framework with the European Union. I’m confident these agreements will continue to advance and more will be reached.

Our producers need a level playing field. It’s critical to hold our trading partners accountable for unfair practices, but we must do so in a way that doesn’t put our own farmers at a disadvantage. We must diversify our trade relationships and negotiate mutually beneficial agreements.

Additionally, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s significant investment in trade promotion will allow more opportunities for American farmers, ranchers and foresters to access and compete in global markets. I’m very pleased we were able to bolster our nation’s export avenues during such a critical time in farm country.

Are you concerned about the rising number of farm bankruptcies? What can Congress do to help?

Food security is national security, so the challenges that exist for our farmers are something that concern us all.

Arkansas farmers and the agriculture industry have been warning about the dire circumstances facing farm families due to increased input costs, high interest rates, depressed commodity prices and weather events. These have all created significant challenges for rural America.?Farmers have been operating under the outdated policies of a 2018 Farm Bill. The polices in the bill were set to be?revamped and?reauthorized in 2023 but have?simply?been extended?at the outdated levels since then.

Last fall, state and national agriculture groups called on Congress to support farmers, ranchers and producers with federal economic assistance. As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I was proud to lead efforts for federal funding to support the long-term economic outlook for farmers.

Congress approved $10 billion for the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program and $20 billion for weather-related losses in 2023 and 2024. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is in the process of implementing these programs and making sure eligible farmers get this assistance.

Unfortunately, things continue to be challenging for our producers. I understand how difficult it is. One of the things we’ve talked about is that we need more “farm” in the Farm Bill, and we’ve been able to do that through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and provide our farmers with opportunities to be successful and continue to grow the safest and most abundant and affordable food supply in the world.

What federal regulations do you hear about most from the business community in Arkansas, and which ones do you believe ought to be reformed or eliminated?

Congress has exercised its authority through the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to roll back numerous costly regulations enacted during the previous administration to accurately reflect the interests of Arkansans and all Americans as well as adhere to congressional intent.

This is necessary because executive branch agencies have broad rulemaking authority that has resulted in extreme mandates.

The Senate has passed numerous CRAs to roll back these excessive rules imposed without input from Congress and that negatively impact our business community, rules that include everything from energy restrictions and product labeling mandates to internet safety requirements.

For the agriculture industry, that can look like the Waters of the United States rule that we finally beat in court and the Trump administration is now rewriting to provide certainty and clarity.

We’ve also heard a lot from local financial institutions about burdensome compliance costs associated with a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule requiring small-business lenders to collect and report social data on small businesses seeking loans. I’m working with Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., to reform this onerous, unreasonable mandate. There are also many projects that get stymied by environmental and permitting regulations that we need to fix, and I think there is bipartisan agreement as well as support from the White House on that.

What are some realistic solutions for replacing the rapidly aging population of farmers?

We must create an environment that encourages young people to step into the field and, when they do, that they see a fulfilling future growing the food, fuel and fiber and that support us all.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act invests in young and beginning farmers in a number of ways so they can pursue their dream of a career in agriculture.

We help these individuals overcome the steep barriers to entry that too often keep them out of the industry. By improving access to credit and reducing risks tied to commodity price volatility, we’re putting them in a better position to secure loans they need to succeed.

The stronger farm safety net signed into law in early July encourages young and beginning farmers to enter the industry or expand their operations by improving access to credit for young and beginning farmers, so they are positioned to obtain loans from commercial and farm credit lenders due to reduced risk from commodity price volatility.

It also delivers relief from the death tax so multigenerational family farms aren’t forced to sell off land or equipment just to pay the government when a loved one passes.

These are meaningful solutions that give the next generation a reason to stay on the farm, and the tools to succeed when they do. Agriculture has a bright future, but we must build and nurture the support systems that make it possible for young people to continue the family legacy or forge their own path in the industry.

Some people think the Medicaid cuts could harm rural hospitals, leading to reduced access to care or closures. Do you agree with that assessment? Why or why not?

This was about protecting Medicaid. The status quo was unsustainable and we are restoring the program to its original mission — a federal-state partnership to assist the truly vulnerable — while empowering able-bodied adults to retain their coverage by contributing to their communities. The policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will help ensure it is administered in a more responsible manner while reducing federal Medicaid spending by roughly $1 trillion over the next decade yet still increasing the number of insured people.

The reality is that rural hospitals have struggled for many years, and I have proudly worked to help them address the persistent challenges threatening their viability. The legislation includes a $50 billion fund to support rural hospitals, providers and patients, and I will help maximize our state’s access to this funding. This bill also levels the playing field for states like Arkansas that were not as dependent on provider taxes and state-directed payment programs to the same degree as others.

Ultimately, we are putting Medicaid on a more sustainable path. And I will continue to champion rural health care and the facilities offering patients vital access and quality treatment.

Why did you initially decide to seek public office? Has that reason changed as you’ve continued to seek re-election?

Outside of my family, the greatest influences in my life were my pastors, teachers and coaches. Razorback football coach Frank Broyles often said there are two types of people: givers and takers. He encouraged us to live as givers, and I’ve tried to follow that advice ever since.

Public service has been a rewarding way to live out that philosophy. I never imagined that serving on the Benton County Fair Board and the Rogers School Board would lead to representing Arkansans in Congress, but I’ve been blessed with that opportunity.

I first ran for office at the urging of friends and community leaders who believed I could make a difference. I won a special election in 2001 to replace Congressman Asa Hutchinson and have been working hard for Arkansas ever since.

As a former football player, I became friends with then-Nebraska Congressman Tom Osborne, who, prior to serving in Congress, was one of the winningest head coaches in collegiate football history. He gave me some great advice that I continue to follow today: You can get a lot accomplished if you don’t care who gets the credit.

My staff and I work hard on behalf of Arkansans every day. Many of our efforts and things that we get across the finish line aren’t headlines, but they’re still incredibly important. We’ve been able to make a real difference in the lives of Arkansans helping navigate issues like veterans benefits, Social Security and passport requests.

I am grateful every day to be able to represent the Natural State and remain committed to serving Arkansans with the same passion and drive as more than 20 years ago.

What frustrates you most about Washington, D.C.?

The partisanship and polarization have increased since I first got to Congress. I understand my colleagues have strong beliefs and want to be true to their values and principles, but I think it’s possible to do that while still seeking common ground and assuming the best of your counterparts rather than the worst. From an early age, I was taught the importance of learning how to disagree without being disagreeable. I think Washington could use a little more of that attitude so we can dial the distractions down and help focus on working together for the good of the country.

As a former football letterman at the University of Arkansas, what solutions do you have for addressing problems related to name, image and likeness and making college sports equitable for all involved?

I’m proud to have personal experience with college sports and appreciate how it brings generations of Arkansans together. I believe it is imperative that universities, associations and governments protect the mental and physical well-being of student-athletes. We need to make sure they are able to perform to the best of their ability in their sport and in the classroom. Several of my colleagues have been examining this issue closely while I have been working with athletic directors and presidents of universities in Arkansas on finding a solution that equitably protects all student-athletes in small and large sports alike.

What’s a favorite book that you read recently?

I really enjoyed “The Boys in the Boat.” It’s a great historical look at a pivotal time not only in our country but across the world. It really underscores the importance of teamwork and camaraderie, so as someone who spent a lot time playing sports in my youth, I could easily identify with the long odds and challenges the young American rowers confronted and the grit they demonstrated in overcoming them. Like most of their peers in the Greatest Generation, these were ordinary men who did something extraordinary, triumphing on a global stage as the precursory events to World War II unfolded and, as we now know, the fate of the world would come to hang in the balance.

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