Farm Bill Vote Expected After Senate Recess

The Senate farm bill could be headed back to the Agriculture Committee as soon as lawmakers return to Washington in September. North Dakota Senator John Hoeven says a tied committee vote stalled action this month, but he expects the bill to advance when senators return from recess.

Well, in essence, we tied. So instead of adjourning the committee, we recessed because Mitch McConnell wasn't there. And so we just recessed. And when we come back into session, we expect to have Senator McConnell with us and then we'll have a majority and we'll go ahead and vote it out and take it to the floor. And so it's really important that folks are out talking to their senators now these next few weeks and telling them how important it is that we get this farm bill passed."

Hoeven says negotiations over SNAP policy remain the biggest obstacle, but argues farmers shouldn't have to wait any longer for relief.

“We have offered a compromise. I mean, I think what we had on the table was fine before. Now we've added an extra year compromise. We thought that was going to get it done. They seemingly have backed up on us again. And I just think people have to say, look, don't hold our farmers and ranchers hostage. Let's get that done for them. They need the help. We've got very low commodity prices, high input prices. And our guys need the help now.”

Among the provisions Hoeven is pushing to keep in the final bill is mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef.

“When you go to the store, as far as labeling your beef, you get to know if it was born, raised and processed in the United States. And people want to know that. We produce the best beef in the world. There's no question about it. And people want to know. It does matter to the consumer. And they do want to know if it's our cattle, our animals raised here in this country. And that's what it's about. And to me, it’s just a common sense thing and I think it's a big help to our domestic ranchers.”

Senator John Hoeven says Senate leadership is expected to move quickly on the legislation once lawmakers return in September.

Source: NAFB