The Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday announced it will consider the Senate version of the farm bill next week. Markup of the bill is planned for Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. The bipartisan bill, according to committee leaders, will “provide much-needed certainty” for farmers and ranchers. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts and Ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow announced the business meeting in a joint press statement, citing their efforts to craft a bipartisan bill to provide “much-needed certainty” for agriculture and rural America. Here is Stabenow on their farm bill efforts.
Senate Ag Plans Farm Bill Markup
The Senate bill needs Democratic votes to reach a 60-vote threshold, so their version will not contain the tougher SNAP work and training requirements that helped sideline the House farm bill. The bill could be passed by the Senate by the end of this month. Senate leader Mitch McConnell has previously said that he would like to pass the farm bill before the Senate goes on the Independence Day recess.
The timeline of the farm bill is less certain in the House of Representatives, however. House Agriculture Committee Chair Mike Conaway had targeted a late June date for reconsideration of the bill after the chamber voted it down last month.
Republican lawmakers who demanded a vote on immigration pulled the bill to failure. But, Republicans begun discussing immigration issues this week, providing renewed farm bill optimism.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.