The House Agriculture Committee passed the $16.1 billion agriculture and nutrition provisions of the budget reconciliation legislation which moves forward President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package. It passed on a party-line 25-23 vote with Republicans complaining that they had been left out of the process. The legislation addresses the “long standing and widespread discrimination against socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers” regarding USDA’s farm loan programs by providing debt relief and assistance for Black farmers and other minority farmers. Republicans suggest the debt relief provisions could be unconstitutional and face legal challenges. A majority of the funding increases support for nutrition programs. It also provides additional funding for protective equipment investments for farm and food workers, assists small meat and poultry processers with overtime inspection costs and expands USDA’s surveillance of COVID-19 and animals.