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Stabenow: Senate farm bill has a strong position for conference

The Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Committee says their farm bill was passed with historic bipartisan support which sends a strong message to the U.S. House.

“I think we had the largest vote ever for a Senate farm bill so we go into conference with a very strong position.”

Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan tells Brownfield the final bill is similar to what was passed out of committee.  “I think it’s going to be important if we’re going to pass this final bill that it look a lot like the Senate’s.”

She says Senator Chuck Grassley’s provision to tighten commodity program payment eligibility mirrors what she included in the 2012 Farm Bill and will have her support during conference.  “I believe it will be modified in conference, but I think it’s important to make sure we’re targeting programs to small and medium-sized operations.”

During debate, Stabenow opposed an amendment by Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana which would have put more work requirement restrictions on some recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. She tells Brownfield the measure would have been burdensome for grocers and states already have the ability to require photo I.D.’s.

Stabenow says she wants to see the improvements made to dairy, conservation, trade promotion and food access maintained in a final bill.

She says the Senate’s bill continues a commitment to ag research and hopes it’s one area of common ground during conference.

Stabenow says a conference committee should start soon and she remains hopeful a farm bill will be passed by the end of September.

The Senate farm bill passed by a vote of 86-11.

AUDIO: Brownfield interview with Senator Debbie Stabenow