Farm bill breakthrough

Good news on the farm bill. From the office of Sen. Tom Harkin, sliding across my inbox at 8:08 pm yesterday. No word on what amendments will be debated under the agreement.


Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced that agreement had been reached on amendments related to the farm bill and that Senate consideration of the bill may resume as soon as tomorrow.

The farm bill passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on October 25th and was brought up on the floor November 5th. The bill has not moved since that time due to efforts to pull into floor debate numerous amendments unrelated to agriculture policy that would bog down the farm bill and greatly delay and jeopardize its passage.

"The farm bill came to the Senate with great momentum – it stayed within pay-as-you-go budgeting, yet provided needed investments to rural America, farming families and the nation. It is a bipartisan measure that passed Committee by voice vote without a single vote voiced against it. And after a month of this bill languishing due to procedural maneuvering, this bill will finally get back on track and bring critical investments to reality. With swift action in the Senate, this bill can pass our chamber by the holiday recess.

"In coming to this agreement, my colleagues worked in a bipartisan manner and negotiated in good faith – a manner similar to the original crafting of this important measure."