Since my last column there has been more development on the passage of the farm bill. My last column addressed the failure by the House to pass a farm bill but that has all changed now. On July 11, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a version of the 2013 farm bill that excludes the Nutritional Title (Title Four). The bill passed on a 216-208 vote. Zero Democrats voted for the new bill.
Traditionally the farm bill has included billions in farm subsidies and billions in food stamps. Many are concerned that by eliminating food stamps the bill will lose support from lawmakers who represent big cities.
The Associated Press said Republicans are not eliminating food stamps by taking them out of the farm bill but instead would deal with them as a separate bill. The next step would be a joint House-Senate conference committee to develop a compromise bill.
The farm-only farm bill is getting mixed reviews from agricultural interest groups. Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst stated, “Another hurdle was cleared today with the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of a new five-year farm bill. We are concerned with the decision made by House leaders to split nutrition assistance programs from the traditional farm bill and repeal and replace permanent law governing agricultural programs. Both actions complicate negotiations with the Senate and will likely affect how farm bills are written in the future. Regardless, we remain committed to seeing a new law enacted and ask Congress to use the time remaining before the August recess to hash out the differences in the House and Senate-passed bills.”
House Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said, “Maybe the old dynamic of how we have done things since 1965 isn’t valid anymore. Maybe it’s time to try something different.” The bill would also repeal laws from the 1930s and 1940s, essentially eliminating all old farm policy, leading some to think that Congress would have little motivation to pass new farm bills and avoid expiration.
I will continue to follow the progress made toward the passage of a new five-year farm bill. The September 30 deadline will be here before we know it.
Best wishes,
