Tagged: Farm Bill

In Part 1 of the the simulcast covering the Farm Bill, KCUR and Iowa Public Radio discussed the largest part of the Farm Bill going through Congress: the SNAP program and cuts to its funding. But with a piece of legislation called the Farm Bill, there has to be provisions in it that affect the farms and farmers across our country, and indeed the Farm Bill does just that. 

The U.S. House is set to take up the farm bill this week, after the Senate passed its version of the bill in early June. Both bills include about $500 billion in spending over five years. Few pieces of legislation can produce such sharp divisions, even by Washington standards—but few could have such immediate, significant impact on so many Americans.

The U.S. Senate approved a new comprehensive farm bill Monday, its plan for everything from food and nutrition assistance to disaster aid for livestock producers to crop insurance for farmers. But before you go popping champagne corks and celebrating the creation of five-years of agricultural policy, know this: The U.S. House has yet to weigh in.

Among the loose ends that lawmakers would like to tie up before the end of this lame-duck session is the farm bill, which is made up mostly of crop subsidies and food stamps.

The last farm bill expired in September. The Senate has passed a new one; the House has not. Farm-state lawmakers are urging leaders to include a farm bill as part of any budget deal to avert year-end tax increases and spending cuts.

But not everyone thinks that's a good idea.

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill says she’s frustrated with the House of Representatives for not taking up three pieces of legislation that she calls “bipartisan” and “vitally important.”