The House Agriculture Committee moved forward on a 33-21 vote for the $1.5 trillion farm bill to advance to the House floor, where it will face a party-line fight.
The bill, House Resolution 8467, the “Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024,” garnered bipartisan support, passing with the backing of four Democrats. Reps. Don Davis (NC-01), Yadira Caraveo (CO-08), Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and Sanford Bishop (GA-02) joined 29 Republican members in supporting the bill.
“I want to commend Reps. Caraveo, Davis, Sorensen and Bishop for their willingness to see through the hyperbolic partisan rhetoric and help advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024,” Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA-15) said. “I heard my Democratic colleagues loud and clear at markup, that there is a whole lot of common ground and a few sticking points that can be resolved through conversation and negotiation.”
The committee blocked by a 25-29 vote Democrat amendments such as:
• The restoration of mandates directing Inflation Reduction Act conservation funds towards climate-smart practices.
• Maintaining the USDA secretary’s control over the Commodity Credit Corporation.
• Reinstating $27 billion in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the next decade.
• Ensuring meatpackers with USDA contracts comply with child labor laws.
The committee approved 19 amendments offered by Thompson, including:
• Ordering the comptroller general to report on the use of Emergency Relief Program funds in 2022.
• Assigning the secretary of Agriculture to direct the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service to enlist the services of one or more land-grant universities to assist with the program in achieving its goals.
• Creating a report on the use of emergency grazing on acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.
• Establishing a department-wide strategy to produce sustainable aviation fuels.
Ag groups
Agricultural groups applauded the farm bill’s advancement as it included provisions addressing the needs of farmers and ranchers.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) expressed gratitude to the House Agriculture Committee for passing the bill, which includes cattle health, voluntary conservation and food security provisions. NCBA President Mark Eisele highlighted that the farm bill protects the cattle industry from foreign animal diseases, supports voluntary conservation efforts, and safeguards the food supply. Eisele thanked Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for advancing a bill that meets the needs of rural America.
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) was pleased with the bill’s advancement as it includes a federal solution to the issues caused by California’s Proposition 12. NPPC President Lori Stevermer praised the committee for seizing the opportunity to protect producers and consumers.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall expressed appreciation for the House Agriculture Committee’s bipartisan passage of the farm bill, noting its significance for all American families.
“We applaud the bipartisan vote after 13 hours of rigorous debate but know that tight margins in both chambers and a crowded congressional calendar will present challenges in the next legislative steps,” Duvall said. “We urge House leaders to continue the momentum and bring this important legislation to a vote on the floor. We also urge the Senate Agriculture Committee to follow the lead of the House by scheduling a farm bill markup.”
Next steps
Thompson implored Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, to work with Committee Ranking Member Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) on their version of the farm bill.
Stabenow said that after the House markup, she was glad Thompson was working to move the process forward, but she noted that “key parts of the House bill split the farm bill coalition in a way that makes it impossible to achieve the votes to become law.”
“We need a farm bill that holds the coalition together and upholds the historic tradition of providing food assistance to our most vulnerable Americans while keeping our commitment to our farmers battling the effects of the climate crisis every day,” Stabenow said in a joint statement with House Agriculture Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA-13). “Democrats remain ready and willing to work with Republicans on a truly bipartisan farm bill to keep farmers farming, families fed, and rural communities strong.”
Boozman said in a statement that he and fellow Republicans on the Agriculture Committee “intend to release our farm bill framework that reflects the Senate’s shared commitments across all 12 titles in the coming weeks.”
Thompson told Agri-Pulse the farm bill might not get a vote on the house floor until September due to the appropriations process expected to occur until Congress’ August recess. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
