HEMP INDUSTRY GETS GREEN LIGHT N THE HOPPER: The release of a compromise farm bill is now just a handful of days away, and lawmakers want to bring the legislation to the House and Senate floors ASAP.
— The SNAP news: The farm bill deal features a nutrition title that aligns with the food stamp provisions in the Senate bill, not those of the controversial House measure.
— Justin is in: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will appear at the NAFTA 2.0 signing today. His participation had been in doubt for much of Thursday.
— To Argentina and back: When Trump joins the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires today, it'll be an in-and-out trip. Some say that's a missed opportunity to improve trade relations in Latin America.
RACE TO BRING FARM BILL TO THE FLOOR: Legislative text of the farm bill compromise announced Thursday is still being written and numbers crunched, but lawmakers are already scrambling to find time to schedule a vote in the House and Senate — 'tis the season. With time running out on the lame duck, the target is for votes to be held as soon as next week.
But first ... a conference report must be completed. Top negotiators are waiting on cost estimates from CBO and staff are working to finalize legal language. Senate Ag Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) cautioned Thursday that the process may take four or five days, meaning the actual bill may not be released until after the weekend.
Details of the deal's key provisions are sparse. Senate and House Agriculture Committee members have yet to be formally briefed on its contents, Roberts said. Here's a rundown of what we know so far:
— SNAP standoff resolved: Senate ag leaders said the nutrition title — the most contentious piece of the legislation — is aligned with the Senate version, meaning House Republicans' bid in H.R. 2 (115) to impose stricter work requirements on millions of food stamp recipients fell short.
— Conservative lawmakers, like Republican Study Committee Chairman Mark Walker (R-N.C.), are already skeptical of the final product, citing the expected outcome on SNAP work requirements. House Ag Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Texas) said he's asking Republicans to reserve judgment until the legislation is finalized.
"What I've asked my colleagues to do [is] keep your powder dry until you see the full package," Conaway told reporters. "Taken in isolation, each individual piece may not be something you like. But once they see the package and see what we've done altogether, then make the decision."
— Hemp industry gets green light: No surprise here. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's bid to legalize the commercial cultivation and sale of hemp made it into the final deal. The bill will remove industrial help from the federal list of controlled substances, and hemp growers will be able to apply for USDA programs.