Congressman LaHood addresses recent farm bill amendment

Posted on June 4, 2024
Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – An amendment to the 2024 farm bill could prohibit intoxicating hemp products nationwide.

The amendment, sponsored by Illinois Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller, would federally criminalize hemp-derived products.

“We in Illinois have an industrial hemp business here,” Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) told WJBC’s Scott Miller. There (are) a number of companies that are involved in that; using industrial hemp for production for many different things in manufacturing.

I’m going to follow that and make sure we are not hurting small and medium-sized businesses in Illinois.”

Despite passing the House Committee on Agriculture, the farm bill amendment is up for debate on the House floor.

If the bill passes the House, it heads to the Senate, where Democrats could vote against the amendment.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…