The House Freedom Caucus on Friday sank a conservative farm bill over an immigration dispute with GOP leadership, delaying a bill that included President Donald Trump’s push to impose stricter work requirements on food stamp recipients. The bill went down, 198-213.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) said the bill is down but not out, “We experienced a setback today after a streak of victories all week. We may be down, but we are not out. We will deliver a strong, new farm bill on time as the President of the United States has called on us to do. Our nation’s farmers and ranchers and rural America deserve nothing less.”
“Plain and simple: the farm bill matters,” said ASA President and Iowa soybean grower John Heisdorffer. “U.S. soybean growers and everyone involved in agriculture depend on this vital piece of legislation. This bill provides a farm safety net, improves conservation, places value on exports and feeds our nation.”
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Government Affairs Allison Cooke today issued the following statement: “It is unfortunate that some in Congress chose not to stand with the farmers and ranchers who work hard every day to feed families in the United States and around the world. The bill addresses a number of priorities for producers, including an expanded Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine bank, funding for environmental stewardship initiatives, and trade promotion programs. It is critical that Congress pass a new Farm Bill before September 30th to provide certainty for cattle and beef producers.”