House passes rule to recombine farm and nutrition programs
September 28, 2013 | 05:27 PM
The House today passed a rule that would put the farm and nutrition programs back together in one bill. The vote was 226-191.
The farm and nutrition program provisions are part of a larger rule that enables Republican leaders to act this weekend on debt and funding bills before the fiscal year ends Monday night.
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson supported the measure, saying the action should mean a new farm bill can be completed this year.
“Extending the 2008 farm bill again is not an adequate solution,” Johnson said. “While it is obvious we will not have a completed farm bill by its expiration on September 30, I urge House leadership to appoint conferees so that the process of conferencing the Senate and House versions of the bill can begin right away.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., released a statement opposing the measure.
“In the midst of a potential government shutdown, it is a moral outrage that the House majority is pushing through a measure that would deny food to over 4 million Americans by slashing $40 billion from the food stamp program while spending $90 billion on crop insurance subsidies,” she said. “This includes the 26 anonymous individuals who receive over a million dollars each.”
“Almost as disheartening is the thud with which our longstanding bipartisan cooperation on the farm bill has ended,” DeLauro said. “For decades, a strong coalition of members from both sides of the aisle supported the farm bill and ensured both farmers and vulnerable Americans were made whole. But the House majority has bowed to their most extreme members and millions of Americans may have to suffer the consequences. Once again, House Republicans are taking America in the wrong direction.”
Johnson said the NFU would continue to advocate for a five-year, comprehensive farm bill to be completed in the next month.
The farm and nutrition program provisions are part of a larger rule that enables Republican leaders to act this weekend on debt and funding bills before the fiscal year ends Monday night.
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson supported the measure, saying the action should mean a new farm bill can be completed this year.
“Extending the 2008 farm bill again is not an adequate solution,” Johnson said. “While it is obvious we will not have a completed farm bill by its expiration on September 30, I urge House leadership to appoint conferees so that the process of conferencing the Senate and House versions of the bill can begin right away.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., released a statement opposing the measure.
“In the midst of a potential government shutdown, it is a moral outrage that the House majority is pushing through a measure that would deny food to over 4 million Americans by slashing $40 billion from the food stamp program while spending $90 billion on crop insurance subsidies,” she said. “This includes the 26 anonymous individuals who receive over a million dollars each.”
“Almost as disheartening is the thud with which our longstanding bipartisan cooperation on the farm bill has ended,” DeLauro said. “For decades, a strong coalition of members from both sides of the aisle supported the farm bill and ensured both farmers and vulnerable Americans were made whole. But the House majority has bowed to their most extreme members and millions of Americans may have to suffer the consequences. Once again, House Republicans are taking America in the wrong direction.”
Johnson said the NFU would continue to advocate for a five-year, comprehensive farm bill to be completed in the next month.
