Press Releases

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after the House passed the Agriculture Improvement Act (H.R. 2), a five year authorization of the Farm Bill:

“Hoosier family farmers employ thousands across the state and are vitally important to Indiana’s economic output – ranking among the top ten states in agricultural production.  I am pleased the House and Senate have come together in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to ensure America’s farmers have the resources and assurances they need to continue providing a safe, reliable, and affordable supply of food, fuel, and fiber for Americans.

“This legislation meaningfully improves the agricultural safety net and invests in much needed infrastructure across rural communities – including combatting the opioid crisis and improving broadband delivery. While not all of the needed improvements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were included in the final bill, 18 of the 21 House-passed reforms are incorporated in the final legislation that provide stability to the program, cut wasteful spending, and reduce fraud and abuse through consequential oversight.”

Background

• Strengthens the farm safety net and provides farmers and ranchers much-needed certainty and stability.
• Improves incentive-based conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
• Strengthens promotion of U.S. agricultural exports through the Market Access Program (MAP) and other trade initiatives.
• Preserves the Administration’s regulatory flexibility on SNAP, including USDA’s ability to reign in states that abuse the waiver process.
• Establishes a National Accuracy Clearinghouse to prevent SNAP recipients from receiving SNAP benefits from multiple states.
• Funds key animal disease prevention and management initiatives, including the stockpiling of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine.