By Gabrielle Serra
Senate Farm Bill
The Senate completed work on the Farm Bill (S. 3240) today, approving final passage by a vote of 64 to 35, after three days of debate on more than 70 amendments.
There were several amendments of interest, including support for rural development and beginning farmers, changes to crop insurance to address soil and wetland conservation compliance as well as subsidy limits for high-income producers, and support for organic agriculture to name a few. The Senate also successfully rejected several harmful amendments to the structure and funding levels of the nutrition programs, which sends a strong bi-partisan message to the House that further cuts than were agreed to during the failed Super Committee process are unacceptable.
Click here for a complete listing of amendments and their respective roll call votes.
House Farm Bill
The House Agriculture Committee announced its mark-up will be on Wednesday July 11. The draft mark is expected to be released the week of July 2.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Committee on Agriculture–Business Meeting
RE: To consider the 2012 Farm Bill
Click here to stream live audio and video of the mark-up.
House Agriculture Appropriations
The House will consider the FY2013 Agriculture Appropriations bill under an open rule beginning on Tuesday, June 26 and likely extending through Thursday of next week. It would not be surprising for hundreds of amendments to be offered, with numerous harmful amendments to make severe funding cuts and significant policy changes to core farm, nutrition, and conservation programs. With the uncertain future of the farm bill in the House this year, we expect there to be numerous harmful amendments that may reemerge during the forthcoming farm bill debates as well. Today, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy opposing passage because of the deep levels of cuts to discretionary funding and threatening a veto. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.