Vilsack urges House to appoint farm bill conferees, move on immigration reform
July 17, 2013 | 04:37 PM
Reacting to statements by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., late Tuesday that he does not expect the House Republican leadership to appoint farm bill conferees before a determination is made on a nutrition bill, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said today that the only way that Congress can finish a farm bill is for conferees to be appointed.
Lucas said it was possible that informal “conversations” can take place, but Vilsack said that “without conferees there is no vehicle for the moderate middle” to prevail in negotiations.
Although noting that he has a high level of respect for Lucas and for House Agriculture ranking member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., for writing a farm bill under difficult circumstances, Vilsack said “The proof is in the pudding. Actions speak louder than words. Time is short for action.”
Vilsack made the statements to reporters after a speech to the National Corn Growers Association, where he said “This Congress seems only capable of making a decision when there’s a crisis."
He cited congressional action to provide funding for meat inspectors and for air traffic controllers when the Obama administration said that the rules of the sequestration legislation would not allow shifting of money to keep the meat inspectors and air traffic controllers on the job.
Not appointing conferees, Vilsack said, could create another crisis.
The current extension of the 2008 farm bill expires September 30. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., have said they will not support another extension and Vilsack has also said he opposes an extension.
Asked if this is a negotiating ploy, Vilsack said, “it is not a negotiating ploy on my side.”
Another extension, Vilsack added, might mean there may never be another farm bill because the 2014 elections, the arrival of a new Congress in 2015 and the 2016 presidential campaigns might interfere with the process.
He also said that if Congress does not take up immigration reform he is worried that the United States will “lose agricultural activity” to other countries. If conservatives are worried about border security, he said,the Senate bill provides for it.
Taking up the farm bill and the immigration bill, Vilsack added, are opportunities for the House to regain momentum in governing.
On Tuesday night, Lucas sent Republican members of the House a memo stating that the conference and development of a nutrition bill could occur simultaneously. But he later told reporters that his statement should not be interpreted to mean that he expects the House leadership to appoint conferees before a determination is made on how to handle nutrition.
Lucas has said he will bring up a nutrition bill if he can get 218 votes to support it, but the House is so divided on the issue that will be difficult.
Meanwhile, the Senate is unlikely to move forward with sending the farm bill back to the House until after the party caucus luncheons today and the Senate Agriculture Committee holds an afternoon hearing on reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a Senate source said.
Lucas said it was possible that informal “conversations” can take place, but Vilsack said that “without conferees there is no vehicle for the moderate middle” to prevail in negotiations.
Although noting that he has a high level of respect for Lucas and for House Agriculture ranking member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., for writing a farm bill under difficult circumstances, Vilsack said “The proof is in the pudding. Actions speak louder than words. Time is short for action.”
Vilsack made the statements to reporters after a speech to the National Corn Growers Association, where he said “This Congress seems only capable of making a decision when there’s a crisis."
He cited congressional action to provide funding for meat inspectors and for air traffic controllers when the Obama administration said that the rules of the sequestration legislation would not allow shifting of money to keep the meat inspectors and air traffic controllers on the job.
Not appointing conferees, Vilsack said, could create another crisis.
The current extension of the 2008 farm bill expires September 30. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., have said they will not support another extension and Vilsack has also said he opposes an extension.
Asked if this is a negotiating ploy, Vilsack said, “it is not a negotiating ploy on my side.”
Another extension, Vilsack added, might mean there may never be another farm bill because the 2014 elections, the arrival of a new Congress in 2015 and the 2016 presidential campaigns might interfere with the process.
He also said that if Congress does not take up immigration reform he is worried that the United States will “lose agricultural activity” to other countries. If conservatives are worried about border security, he said,the Senate bill provides for it.
Taking up the farm bill and the immigration bill, Vilsack added, are opportunities for the House to regain momentum in governing.
On Tuesday night, Lucas sent Republican members of the House a memo stating that the conference and development of a nutrition bill could occur simultaneously. But he later told reporters that his statement should not be interpreted to mean that he expects the House leadership to appoint conferees before a determination is made on how to handle nutrition.
Lucas has said he will bring up a nutrition bill if he can get 218 votes to support it, but the House is so divided on the issue that will be difficult.
Meanwhile, the Senate is unlikely to move forward with sending the farm bill back to the House until after the party caucus luncheons today and the Senate Agriculture Committee holds an afternoon hearing on reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a Senate source said.
