{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-travels-to-iowa-and-meets-with-farmers/", "Welch Travels to Iowa and Meets with Farmers", "2025-12-06", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "VT", "Peter Welch", "W000800", "www.welch.senate.gov", "welch", "https://www.welch.senate.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Pledges to Keep Up the Fight Against Trump\u2019s Reckless Agriculture, Trade, and Economic Policies\n\nAMES, IOWA\u2014U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, today traveled to Ames, Iowa, where he spoke with Iowa farmers and producers at the 110th Annual Iowa Farmers Union State Convention. His remarks focused on the turmoil caused by President Trump\u2019s economic policies, and his fight to support farmers in Vermont, Iowa, and across the country.\n\n\u201cI hear it from Vermont\u2019s world-class farmers, I heard it yesterday in Nebraska, and I heard it today from farmers in Iowa: Farmers ask \u2018When are we going to get a Farm Bill?\u2019 But they\u2019re really asking, \u2018When are we going to get the Farm Bill we need?\u2019,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cFarmers are the backbone of our communities\u2014we can\u2019t have a strong America without a strong rural America. I was honored to speak with Iowans today and listen. It\u2019s clear that if Washington is truly going to support farmers we need to let them farm, and that means open markets and an end to this trade war\u2014which is hurting farmers across the country. I\u2019m committed to making rural America more affordable and stronger\u2014and won\u2019t back down in the fight.\u201d\n\nView photos below:\n\nSenator Welch speaks at the Iowa Farmers Union State Convention\n\nSenator Welch meets with farmers in Iowa\n\nThe affordability crisis is causing extraordinary pain in rural America. Iowa\u2019s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell 6.1% in the first quarter of 2025, and row-crop prices have continued to falter throughout 2025 as the Trump Administration\u2019s tariffs (and subsequent retaliation) have closed markets. As in Vermont, farm machinery prices are rising as imported parts and equipment is tariffed. School enrollment is declining, and housing is unaffordable. Iowa will lose $9 billion over the next decade because of the Medicaid cuts enacted in Republicans\u2019 so-called \u2018One Big Beautiful Bill Act\u2019 and rural hospitals are at risk of closing.\n\nSenator Welch has championed legislation to end the trade war, support rural development, and strengthen farms. He is the cosponsor of several bipartisan bills and resolutions to block the Trump Administration\u2019s tariffs on Canada, as well as the global tariffs. Senator Welch has led legislation to ensure farmers have the right to repair their farm equipment, improve crop insurance, and support beginning farmers and ranchers. He is also the sponsor of bipartisan bills to support rural hospitals and build out rural broadband. Recently, the Senate passed his bipartisan bill to support dairy farmers and kids by allowing nutritious whole milk in schools.\n\nIn addition to serving as the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, Senator Welch serves on the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Rules Committee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-travels-to-iowa-and-meets-with-farmers/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5401530545204878, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}