The House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 6083, the “Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012,” on a strong bipartisan vote of 35-11.  

P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

July 16, 2012

2 Min Read
House Ag Committee Passes Farm Bill

The House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 6083, the “Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012,” on a strong bipartisan vote of 35-11.  The bill cuts $35 billion from existing programs over 10 years (commodities, $14 billion; conservation, $6 billion; nutrition, $16 billion).   The bill authored by Congressmen Frank Lucas (R-OK), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and Collin Peterson (D-MN), ranking member, withstood a number of challenges to key provisions concerning dairy, sugar and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/food stamps).   Efforts to cut the SNAP program even more ($33 billion) and efforts to restore the cuts back to the Senate farm bill level of $4 billion were defeated.  The level of cuts in the SNAP program will be a key issue when the bill is taken to the floor.   Chairman Lucas said, “Today marked an important step forward in the development of the next farm bill. I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues and the bipartisan nature in which this legislation was written and approved. This is a balanced, reform-minded, fiscally responsible bill that underscores our commitment to production agriculture and rural America, achieves real savings and improves program efficiency.”  Congressmen Peterson reminded everyone that time is running out in getting a farm bill to the President’s desk by the time the current farm bill expires.  He noted, “The current farm bill expires on Sept. 30, and there only 13 legislative days before the August recess. Simply put, the House leadership needs to bring the farm bill to the floor for a vote. We should not jeopardize the health of our rural economies which, by and large, have remained strong the last few years.  Our nation's farmers and ranchers need the certainty of a new, five year farm bill and they need it before the current farm bill ends.”  There is no indication when the bill will be considered by the House of Representatives.  

 

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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