The House and Senate are moving forward on reauthorizing the Farm Bill. Last week after a daylong session, even with a three-hour break, the House Agriculture Committee finished marking up its bill at 11:45 last Wednesday night.
The Senate brought their bill to the floor this week and will be adjourning for the Memorial Day recess with the plan to come back June 3 and complete the bill.
HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
As the House committee considered the bill, there was substantial debate on the SNAP programs and SNAP education. Despite the discussion, most of the amendments were offered and withdrawn so that the debate could happen on the House floor.
Some issues of interest to WSU:
There was an amendment offered by Congressman Courtney from Connecticut to create a food and science research foundation within USDA – something similar to entities within FDA at NIH. The amendment would authorize private gifts of grants for funding an independent 501(c)(3) that are run by an independent board appointed by Congress. The amendment was offered and withdrawn but we expect there to be some discussion about this on the House floor.
Washington’s Congresswoman Suzan DelBene offered an amendment recognizing the importance of specialty crops and spoke specifically about the work done at WSU’s Skagit County extension. She offered and withdrew her amendment as well – but was an obvious champion for specialty crops.
In the Energy Title, Congressman Enyart (D, IL) offered an amendment encouraging a pilot scale R&D facility for jet fuel with USDA and the Air Force. This was also offered and withdrawn. We anticipate there will be more amendments offered on the floor on Title IX the Energy Title as Congress debates how to fund these programs.
Congressman Schrader (D, OR) from Oregon offered an amendment for an Organic Check off program that also defines organic crops as a commodity for research. The Chairman opposed the amendment but it passed the committee and will be in the bill going to the House floor this summer. In addition, Rep. Courtney (D, CT) offered and withdrew an amendment to restore mandatory funding to organics research.
The two veterinarians on the Committee, Congressman Schrader and Congressman Yoho (R, FL) (Schrader and Yoho) offered and withdrew an amendment that would allow veterinarians to carry controlled substances when making calls.
The bill was finally passed out of committee by a vote of 36-10 with our Congresswoman Suzan DelBene’s support.
SENATE FLOOR
The Senate started debate on the Farm Bill this week, but did not complete the Farm bill before moving on to judicial nominations yesterday so they will come back to complete the bill the week after Memorial Day.
Most of the debate thus far has centered on crop insurance payments and GMO language. Title IX (Energy) and Title VII (Research) will be on the docket when the Senate returns on June 3rd.
Yesterday, the Senate voted to limit insurance subsidies to the wealthiest farmers in the farm bill that would lower federal crop insurance subsidies by 15 percent for farmers who make more than $750,000 a year in adjusted gross income. The proposal by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) passed in a 59-33 vote.
The Senate also approved 94-0 an amendment by Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) aimed at curbing fraud in the crop insurance program.
By a 44-52 vote, the Senate rejected a provision championed by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) to end crop insurance subsidies for tobacco farmers.
Finally the Senate rejected an amendment offered by Senator Bernie Sanders to make it clear that states have the authority to require labels on food or beverages made with genetically modified ingredients. The vote was 27 in favor and 71 against the amendment. Senators Cantwell and Murray supported the amendment.
We have a bit of a break on the farm bill until June 3 when the Senate returns but will continue to keep you posted.
Let us know if you have any questions about either one of the bills.