Reid introduces Senate-passed farm bill
January 22, 2013 | 05:05 PM
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today introduced last year’s Senate-passed version of the farm bill as one of several “privileged, top priority bills,” Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., announced.
“I applaud Sen. Reid’s leadership and commitment to getting a five-year farm bill done to provide certainty to the 16 million Americans working in agriculture,” Stabenow said in a statement.
“Last year we were able to pass a farm bill with overwhelming bipartisan support, saving more than $23 billion in taxpayer money and reforming farm bill programs to be more cost-effective and market-oriented,” Stabenow said. “Unfortunately, the House didn’t bring the farm bill to the floor. Majority Leader Reid has demonstrated that the Senate will once again make supporting our nation’s agriculture economy while cutting spending a top priority.”
Stabenow’s office said she is committed to convening a mark up as soon as possible to produce an updated version of the farm bill, which could then be substituted for Reid’s placeholder bill.
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson commended Reid and Stabenow, and urged House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to take action.
“This is a positive way to begin the year and Congressional session. NFU applauds Senate leadership for its commitment to U.S. agriculture,” Johnson said. “Farmers and ranchers are in need of certainty through a five-year farm bill and we will continue to work with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to garner their support for a bill as soon as possible.
“NFU urges Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner to make the same commitment to rural America so that we do not prolong this process much longer.”
“I applaud Sen. Reid’s leadership and commitment to getting a five-year farm bill done to provide certainty to the 16 million Americans working in agriculture,” Stabenow said in a statement.
“Last year we were able to pass a farm bill with overwhelming bipartisan support, saving more than $23 billion in taxpayer money and reforming farm bill programs to be more cost-effective and market-oriented,” Stabenow said. “Unfortunately, the House didn’t bring the farm bill to the floor. Majority Leader Reid has demonstrated that the Senate will once again make supporting our nation’s agriculture economy while cutting spending a top priority.”
Stabenow’s office said she is committed to convening a mark up as soon as possible to produce an updated version of the farm bill, which could then be substituted for Reid’s placeholder bill.
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson commended Reid and Stabenow, and urged House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to take action.
“This is a positive way to begin the year and Congressional session. NFU applauds Senate leadership for its commitment to U.S. agriculture,” Johnson said. “Farmers and ranchers are in need of certainty through a five-year farm bill and we will continue to work with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to garner their support for a bill as soon as possible.
“NFU urges Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner to make the same commitment to rural America so that we do not prolong this process much longer.”
