Statement by Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding House Farm Bill Prospects

June 12, 2013 “With his statement of support for the farm bill today, Speaker Boehner is giving all Americans, including the farmers who feed them and those concerned with nutrition programs, real optimism that Washington can get important work done in 2013. In return, today he has been attacked unfairly by those who want to make the bipartisan progress on a farm bill appear to be the work of party politics by President Obama or the speaker himself. “Congress is advancing bipartisan farm legislation – the House bill that cleared committee on a bipartisan 36-10 vote will soon be on the House floor. It is unfortunate that outside political groups with no interest in the agricultural economy or the farm and ranch families who underpin our rural economies have reacted by promoting inaction, effectively supporting no reform, no progress. Heritage Foundation-Heritage Action, for example, opposes the legislation, but they are misstating the facts in characterizing reforms advanced in the legislation as a referendum on the president. It certainly is not the view of a single leader in the political debate. “The American Farm Bureau calls on Congress to work its will through a fair process and an open debate, to finish the House bill, leading to a conference committee, which can then produce legislation that reflects the will of the American people. It is time to put aside partisan bickering and get to work.”