Ft Wayne Times

Today, Congressman Jim Baird of Indiana's 4th District issued a statement regarding his vote in favor of H.R. 10545, known as the American Relief Act.

Baird acknowledged that while the bill is not without flaws, it provides essential support for several key areas. "While this government funding bill is not perfect, I voted for the American Relief Act," he stated. The legislation includes significant allocations such as $10 billion in economic assistance to farmers and a one-year extension of the Farm Bill, which aims to provide stability to farmers during ongoing congressional negotiations.

The bill also addresses relief efforts for Americans affected by natural disasters like Hurricanes Milton and Helene. According to Baird, "House Republicans are providing Americans impacted by the recent natural disasters with the support they need."

Additionally, the act maintains certain fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs amidst concerns over increased trafficking under the current administration. "This package also continues to place certain fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs at a time when record amounts of fentanyl have been trafficked across our open borders under the Biden-Harris Administration and devastated our communities," Baird remarked.

The legislation seeks to eliminate unnecessary provisions from previous bills and secure government funding until March 2025. Baird noted that this timeline would allow Republicans more influence over future funding decisions: "Finally, this legislation also removes many of the pork-filled, Christmas tree provisions of the previous package and will fund the government until March 2025 when Republicans will have more control over the funding decisions and deliver on the mandate of the American people."