A new Farm Bill is expected to become law soon. The version passed by the House and Senate conference committee, based mostly on the Senate version, was easily passed by the Senate with bipartisan support on Tuesday, 87-13. That vote came less than one day after the House and Senate reached an agreement on the bill, which for months had been caught up in tense negotiations over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan is the Ranking Member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and had a big hand in crafting the legislation with Chairman Pat Roberts of Kansas.
“This was a very hard-fought, bipartisan victory and as I said when I chaired the committee and we passed the last bill five years ago, Michigan really is on every page.”
Stabenow says one in every four jobs in the state is connected to farming or food production, so the legislation impacts more than just the rural community. She says it provides five years of certainty for farmers and small businesses and continues historic investments in land, water, and wildlife conservation.
The U.S. House is expected to pass the compromise legislation Wednesday, and President Trump has committed to signing it when it reaches his desk.
