News

House 2018 Farm Bill fails

The House farm bill has been voted down on a vote of 198 to 213.  House speaker Paul Ryan’s motion to reconsider was suspended, and another vote could be coming. All Democrats, as well as 30 Republicans led by the House Freedom Caucus, voted against the farm bill. The bill lost all support from Democrats when it passed out of the House Ag Committee because of the addition of more SNAP recipient work requirements.

Statement by Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson on Failure of H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018: “It’s unfortunate the Republicans chose to take this path, and it’s clear from their inability to get the necessary votes from within their own caucus that there are internal fractures they have to contend with. But this is a good opportunity for us to return to the table and fix this bill before we move forward. As I said in my remarks Wednesday, this job is too big for one party. Let’s come together and figure out a bill that works for everyone. We don’t have to let this process be held hostage by the demands of the extremes of our parties. We can and should take the time to get the farm bill right.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement regarding the initial vote on the 2018 Farm Bill in the U.S. House of Representatives: “A Farm Bill is necessary to provide our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers with the stability and predictability they need. Our farmers feed the people of this nation and the world, and they deserve the certainty of a Farm Bill.” Perdue publicly supported the proposed additional SNAP work requirements in the House Farm Bill.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson: “The rejection of the House version of the 2018 Farm Bill highlights the host of concerns that family farmers have with this failed legislation. At a time when farmers and ranchers are in significant financial strain due to years of depressed prices, this bill does not make necessary improvements to the farm safety net. It eliminates conservation programs and funding that provide them with the tools they need to be the best possible stewards of our natural resources. It reverses progress toward expanding their access to local, regional, and specialty markets. And it makes unnecessary cuts to programs that feed hungry Americans. “Major changes need to be made to this bill. Farmers Union urges the House to send it back to committee to make significant improvements worthy of the men and woman who feed, fuel and clothe our nation.”