Press Releases

Congressman Larry Bucshon, a physician from southern Indiana, released the following statement regarding the passage of the Agriculture Act of 2014 by a vote of 251-166.

Dr. Bucshon stated:

“As I keep in constant contact with my Agriculture Advisory Committee, I consistently hear from them that the status quo is inefficient and unacceptable.  The bottom line is that the agriculture community needs a farm bill and I’m pleased that the House approved this agreement. 

“While it is not perfect, this five year comprehensive bill provides the much needed certainty for Hoosier family farmers.  We save $16.6 billion, end direct payments, increase accountability within federal programs, and provide regulatory relief.  We also renew funds that support rural communities with large amounts of federal lands, which is vitally important for Southern Indiana counties to provide critical services to their citizens. Overall, this bill simply makes sense for the Hoosier state, our agriculture community, and our economy.”

BACKGROUND: 

The Agriculture Act of 2014 renews full funding for the Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program:

PILT was created by Congress in 1976 to support rural communities who could not tax federal lands within their jurisdiction. These payments go toward building and maintaining roads, hiring teachers, paying police officers and supplying emergency services, and other vital services that communities would otherwise not have the revenues to support.

###