House Agriculture Committee Advances Farm Bill
US - The House Agriculture Committee has approved the Farm Bill, H.R. 6083, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012 by a vote of 35-11.
13 July 2012
2 minute read
Commenting on this, Chairman Frank Lucas said: "This marks an important step forward in the development of the next farm bill.
"I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues and the bipartisan nature in which this legislation was written and approved. This is a balanced, reform-minded, fiscally responsible bill that underscores our commitment to production agriculture and rural America, achieves real savings, and improves program efficiency."
Ranking Member Collin Peterson said: "I'm pleased this markup is behind us and we can continue to move the process forward. The current farm bill expires on September 30 and there only 13 legislative days before the August recess.
"Simply put, the House leadership needs to bring the farm bill to the floor for a vote. We should not jeopardise the health of our rural economies which, by and large, have remained strong the last few years. Our nation's farmers and ranchers need the certainty of a new five year farm bill and they need it before the current farm bill ends."
This news has been welcomed by the National Milk Producers Federation. CEO and President, Jerry Kozak said: "The House bill includes dairy reforms modeled after NMPF's Foundation for the Future programme. These elements represent badly-needed improvements in our safety net for milk producers.
"We're very appreciative that members of the Agriculture Committee have preserved the carefully-crafted economic and political compromises that went into the creation of the dairy programme in the Farm Bill. The fundamental package of dairy policy reforms supported by NMPF remained unchanged throughout the Agriculture Committee’s debate this week."
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