The Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston song of 50 years ago could probably say it best. It takes two to make a dream come true for House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-TX, as the House passed its version of the 2018 farm bill, June 21, by a two-vote margin.
The vote was 213 to 211, with the vote deadlocked at 211 for several minutes until two remaining available votes were cast in favor of the Agriculture Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2). Republicans provided all the votes in favor. Twenty Republicans joined 191 Democrats in opposing the bill.
The bill was approved on its second attempt following demands by the conservative House Freedom Caucus to pass an immigration reform bill. Because of that demand, the House rejected the farm bill on the first try, May 18, by a vote of 213 to 198.
Republicans had also planned to vote on a compromise immigration bill prior to the farm bill vote, but delayed it after lawmakers sought more time to review the proposal.
“Farm bill just passed in the House,” President Donald Trump tweeted following the vote. “So happy to see work requirements included. Big win for the farmers!”
Following the vote, Conaway said in a statement, “Today’s vote was about keeping faith with the men and women of rural America and about the enduring promise of the dignity of a day’s work.
“It was about providing certainty to farmers and ranchers who have been struggling under the weight of a five-year recession and about providing our neighbors in need with more than just a hand out, but a hand up. I’m proud of what this body has accomplished, and now look forward to working with the Senate and the president to deliver a farm bill on time to the American people.”
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D-MN, said in a statement, “The partisan approach of the majority has produced a bill that simply doesn’t do enough for the people it’s supposed to serve. It still leaves farmers and ranchers vulnerable, it worsens hunger and it fails rural communities. The only upside to its passage is that we’re one step closer to conference, where it’s my hope that cooler heads can and will prevail.
“The Senate’s version isn’t perfect, but it avoids the hardline partisan approach that House Republicans have taken here today, and if it passes, I look forward to working with conferees to produce a conference report both parties can support, which is the only way to get a farm bill enacted into law.”
Perdue offers his support
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said, “I applaud Chairman Conaway and the House Agriculture Committee for their diligence and hard work in passing their 2018 farm bill through the House of Representatives. American producers have greatly benefited from the policies of the Trump administration, including tax reforms and reductions in regulations, however, a farm bill is still critically important to give the agriculture community some much-needed reassurance.
“No doubt, there is still much work to be done on this legislation in both chambers of Congress, and USDA stands ready to assist with whatever counsel lawmakers may request or require.”
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-KS, said, “I congratulate Chairman Conaway on successfully navigating his farm bill through the House. I look forward to working with him and his colleagues in conference once the Senate passes our farm bill. Our farmers and ranchers need certainty and predictability. They are counting on us.”
Senior members of the House weighed in on their farm bill, too. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-OK, chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, said, “I am pleased my colleagues in the House have acted to pass the 2018 farm bill. This legislation underscores the importance of protecting the farm safety net for producers and ensuring our fellow citizens have access to a safe and affordable food supply.
“The 2018 farm bill builds upon the success of the 2014 farm bill and, in this environment of low commodity prices, gives producers greater economic certainty to plan for the future.
“I’m proud of the work by my colleagues in the House Agriculture Committee in crafting a comprehensive bill. Now, it is crucial that the Senate passes a farm bill so that a final product can be developed in conference committee.”
Democrat criticism
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-CT, who once chaired the House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee, was not as glowing in her praise.
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“Today’s farm bill vote was not the result of sound policy winning the day, but a backroom deal between the Republican majority’s factions,” DeLauro said. “The hypocrisy of this farm bill from President Trump and Congressional Republicans means more subsidies for the rich and greater hunger for the poor. Last year, SNAP prevented more than 42 million people from going hungry, including 4.8 million seniors and 1.5 million low-income military veterans.”
“This bill will kick 2 million people off nutrition assistance and cut SNAP benefits by more than $23 billion. Meanwhile, Republicans continued the massive giveaways to wealthy agribusinesses through farm programs and subsidies for crop insurance—one of the few federal programs without any eligibility caps or payment limits. Just like the Republican tax scam, the Republican farm bill is rigged for the rich. Farm subsidies are so skewed toward the rich that the top 10 percent of farms—about 76,000 farms—received over 60 percent of all farm subsidies.”
“Meanwhile, SNAP recipients have income limits, asset limits, and work requirements. Millionaires and billionaires who pocket farm subsidies do not. Where are their work requirements? In the United States—a land of food abundance—no one should be hungry. We need to eradicate hunger, not anti-hunger programs.”
House members wanted to quickly pass the farm bill and immigration package then go home for the weekend, as family members were in Washington to attend a long-scheduled picnic at the White House that night, then fly home with their families the following day. But Trump cancelled the picnic June 20 saying members following the House’s failure to get an immigration bill passed, saying “it didn’t feel right.”
Larry Dreiling can be reached at 785-628-1117 or [email protected].
