News

Cantor: Lame duck farm bill action likely

House majority leader Eric Cantor, widely criticized for not allowing the full House to vote on the new farm bill, indicates that the legislation will likely come up during the lame duck session of Congress.

During a campaign appearance this week in New York, Cantor continued to maintain that there were not enough votes to pass the Farm Bill as is and said it will still need to be “tweaked” to gain House passage.  However, he was not specific on what changes are needed.

At the recent drought forum in Omaha, Brownfield asked American Soybean Association (ASA) president Steve Wellman if he’s optimistic about the farm bill’s chances in the lame duck session.

“I am—but I think we have to be, also,” Wellman says. “The alternatives really don’t make sense.”

One of ASA’s immediate concerns, Wellman says, is the expiration of funding for foreign market development.

“Those funds will have expired and run out on October 1st—and there are portions of the credit guarantee program that have expired,” he says.

“So there are definitely hazards here of potentially losing market and not being able to continue our programs that we have in our global markets—to continue to meet their needs and develop other markets yet, too, as we move along through the future.”

Wellman farms near Syracuse, Nebraska.

AUDIO: Steve Wellman (3:24 MP3)

 

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published.


 

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox!