House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries warns any new farm bill next year must be balanced and bipartisan, or it will face the same opposition from his party that kept it from passing this year.
Congress must again extend the 2018 farm bill, and top House Democrat Jeffries warns any new farm bill or extension must meet his party’s goals. “We, of course, have to address the looming expiration of the farm bill,” says Jeffries. “And that issue must also be dealt with in a bipartisan way and in a manner consistent with protecting farmers, protecting the agricultural industry, and protecting nutritional assistance for vulnerable Americans.”
And even at this late date, Jeffries says there’s uncertainty over the legislative vehicle for a second farm bill extension. He says, “It remains to be seen what the process will be in connection with the farm bill.”
Suggesting it could be made part of another bill like one extending agency spending into next year, or as freestanding legislation. But Jeffries warns any new five-year farm bill next year will again demand bipartisanship given a tiny GOP majority. He says, “We will, by necessity, be engaged because it’s clear that the incoming House Republican majority will not be able to do much without us.”
And this further cautionary note on any GOP legislation, Jeffries says “As we prepare for the new Congress, we will seek to find common ground with the incoming administration, whenever and wherever possible, in order to solve problems for hard-working American taxpayers, but we will push back against far-right extremism whenever necessary.”
Democrats sharply criticized the House Ag Committee-passed GOP farm bill this year that would have removed the Ag Secretary’s discretion to update SNAP benefits and shifted $30 billion in SNAP savings to farm programs.
Story courtesy of NAFB News Service and Berns Bureau Washington/by Matt Kaye