Farm Bill Clears House Agricultural Committee

Farm Bill Clears House Agriculture Committee

The House passed their version of the Farm Bill July 12th

• It took a 15 hour marathon deliberation session of 109 offered amendments.
• The bill passed by a healthy and bipartisan 24-vote margin, 35-11. Here’s a table showing the party breakdown.
  

Voted for the Bill	Voted against the Bill
13 Democrats	7 Democrats – Who didn’t like the deep funding cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
22 Republicans	4 Republicans – Who didn’t like the bill’s high price tag and the farm subsidies it offers farmers.

Industry Groups and Critics remain unsatisfied

• The House bill does not win favor across the board.
• Environmental groups are upset that it allows for increased pesticide use and less stringent rules for genetically engineered crops.
• Food groups worry cuts to the food stamp program could leave two to three million people without food benefits.
• Groups of fiscal conservatives maintain the bill is still too generous with federal subsidies to well-off farmers.

How is the Senate version and House version of the Farm Bill similar?

• Both Senate and House bills consolidate conservation programs and change commodity protection programs. These adjustments save about $1.9 billion annually, compared with current spending.

How do the Senate version and the House version of the Farm Bill differ?

• The House Farm Bill saves $35 billion over ten years; the Senate Farm Bill saves $23 billion.
• The differential in savings comes completely from the far steeper cuts to the SNAP program in the House Farm Bill, which cuts $16.5 billion compared with the Senate’s $4.5 billion cuts.

Why can’t we be friends?

Farm Subsidies and Nutrition Programs have proven to be fodder for contentious debate, with opposing sides unlikely to compromise. To sidestep the all-too-predictable bitter floor debate on both issues, it is speculated that House Speaker John Boehner (OH-8) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (VA-7) may opt for negotiations in conference committees. Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK-3) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN-7) would negotiate a Farm Bill middle ground with their Senate counterparts, Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Pat Roberts (R-KS).  The bill that results from their dealings would be put on fast track for approval, with just one more roll call vote on the House floor.

The Legislative Clock is ticking…

• Three more weeks before the House leaves on their five-week summer recess.
• After the break, only eight legislative days remain before the current farm bill expires come midnight on September 30th.