By Leah Douglas
(Reuters) – The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee passed its version of a $1.5 trillion farm spending bill late on Thursday with few Democratic votes, ending the deadlock between the parties over key nutritional , agricultural and climate policies are extended.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Congress failed to pass a new farm bill in 2023, an omnibus legislative package passed every five years.
The House bill would have to be reconciled with a Senate bill led by Democrats, and without strong bipartisan support, the House version has a slim chance of becoming law.
Further delays on a new farm bill could create uncertainty for farmers and people dependent on food aid, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack warned during a press call Wednesday.
Federal hunger assistance for the poor, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and farm programs, is currently being extended by one year from the 2018 farm bill passed last September.
CONTEXT
The House bill — which passed out of committee on a 33-21 vote with 4 Democrats — expands support for agricultural commodities, cuts SNAP funding and reallocates nearly $20 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act intended for climate-friendly agricultural practices.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson said during Thursday’s committee meeting that the bill “strengthens every aspect of American agriculture.”
Democrats in the House of Representatives and the Senate have said that cuts in food aid and the redistribution of climate funds are red lines in the negotiations.
“This bill is misguided, and in some ways it is narrow-minded,” said David Scott, the committee’s top Democrat.
Agricultural commodity groups have expressed support for the House bill, while environmental and hunger groups have opposed it.
IMPORTANT QUOTE
“Despite areas of agreement, it is now clear that key portions of the House bill divided the Farm Bill coalition in a way that will make it impossible to gain the votes to become law,” said Debbie Stabenow, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, a Democrat. in a statement on the bill’s passage.
(Reporting by Leah Douglas; Editing by Rod Nickel)
