In the News

One day after the US Senate overwhelmingly passed the new Farm Bill, the House followed suit.

The House overwhelmingly passed the bill, with more than 360 representatives voting in favor. The bill passed with a 369-47 vote. The bill ensures farmers can rely on crop insurance to protect against financial risk and that low-income Americans have access to food aid without new restrictions on eligibility or cuts to benefits. Kentucky Congressmen James Comer and Brett Guthrie voted in favor of the new Farm Bill, along with Indiana Congressman Larry Bucshon and Illinois Congressman John Shimkus. Indiana Congressman Larry Bucshon hailed the House’s passage of the five-year reauthorization of the Farm Bill. His full statement can be found below: “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.” Kentucky Congressman James Comer also released a statement following the House’s passage of the Farm Bill. His full statement can be found below: “This Farm Bill will help America’s farmers survive a nearly 50% drop in net farm income over the past five years, and we importantly moved the needle on SNAP to make the program more effective for recipients. I’m particularly happy to see – with Leader McConnell’s help – the provision de-scheduling hemp from the controlled substances list included in the bill.  With a strong USDA and state-based framework, the unnecessary government restrictions on hemp have finally been lifted and now farmers across the country can take full advantage of the crop’s potential as an agriculture commodity,” Congressman Comer said. “During difficult economic times for farm country, overall this bill provides certainty to our farmers and provides tools for a more successful future in rural America.”

On Tuesday, the Senate adopted the compromise with an 87-13 vote.The Agriculture Improvement Act will now be sent to President Trump to be signed into law.