Lawmakers Expected to Vote Soon on Emergency Aid for Cattle Farmers

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- It looks like Missouri cattle farmers are about to get some relief from Congress.

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote sometime in the next 24 hours to reinstate emergency subsidy programs for livestock farmers hard hit by this summer's drought. Those programs ran out in September of 2011.

Senator Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) says he'd rather Congress come up with a five-year farm bill, but this emergency relief measure will do for now.

"The House is going to send a piece of disaster relief legislation to the Senate. It's going to be paid for, and the Senate should pass it."

Congress is racing against a Friday deadline to get action wrapped up. Members of Congress will spend the month of August at home.