At Long Last, A Farm Bill!
By Sam Lewis
Negotiators in Congress finally reach agreement on long overdue agriculture legislation
The evening of Monday, Jan 27 brought a press release by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, stating bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the much-anticipated Agricultural Act of 2014.
According to Stabenow, the new five-year bill will reduce debt while creating jobs in agriculture. The bill will also eliminate the direct payment subsidy program, replacing it in part with an enhanced crop insurance program. Additionally, the bill will consolidate other programs and more severely punish abusers of them. The Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, is a government program that is notoriously misused and abused.
Another provision in the agreement reached on Monday night will help farmers and livestock producers devastated by natural disasters and severe weather. “This bill proves that by working across party lines we can save taxpayer money while at the same time strengthening efforts helping to create jobs,” says Stabenow. “Agriculture has been a bright spot in our economy and is helping to drive our country’s economic recovery.”
According to a preliminary tally, the new farm bill is estimated to save around $23 billion. The total savings is reached by taking $10 billion in increased expenses (crop insurance, specialty crop support, bio energy) away from the $33 billion in total cuts — $19 billion from farm subsidy programs, $6 billion from consolidating conservation programs, and $8 billion from nutrition assistance.
The agreement was reached on the new bill after legislators spent weeks sorting out differences over big issues like food stamps and dairy supports. The House of Representatives is likely to act on the agreement before Republican leaders leave Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, embarking on a three day retreat focused on policy. Voting on the bill could happen in the Senate as soon as next week. Assuming both chambers pass the bill, it would arrive at the desk of President Obama to receive his signature and become law.
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