Farm Bill Now
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says time’s up to decide if there will or won’t be a new farm bill this year. He told members of the American Farmland Trust …
VILSACK … “Time is of the essence. We need a farm bill now.”
Vilsack said as a short lame-duck session quickly approaches, the clock will soon run out on a new farm bill this year …
VILSACK … “We’re quickly running out of time this fall for this Congress to come together to address the farm bill in a bipartisan way. Either we have a real, bipartisan deal on a new farm bill, or at a minimum, an extension of the existing farm bill.”
The Ag Secretary argues the opposing sides—Republicans for ‘more farm in the farm bill’ versus Democrats against reducing food stamp benefits—must find a middle ground …
VILSACK … “The farm bill needs to be one that is not leaving anyone behind, whether that be farmers concerned about losing their farms in tight times or working families struggling to get by.”
But Vilsack earlier criticized the House GOP-led farm bill for its unpaid cost and reducing SNAP benefits, instead praising Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow’s framework as more “realistic and reasonable, addressing the farm safety net without harming SNAP.”
Now, with time running out, and the uncertainty of who will be in the majority and who will hold the White House next year …
VILSACK … “Frankly, the longer we wait, the harder it is to get this done.”
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack.
