Farm Bill Could Be on Presidents Desk This Week
(Update after printing – U.S. Senate Passes Farm Bill – Roll Call 87-13 on Conference Report. )
The release of a farm bill conference report late Monday sets the stage for both chambers of Congress to vote this week and send the legislation to President Trump by week’s end.
The bipartisan compromise does not stray too far from the 2014 law. It avoids major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and a Senate effort to crack down on subsidies for wealthy farmers.
The sprawling 807-page legislation has an estimated price tag of $867 billion over 10 years, sources told Politico.
The legislation includes a small boost for trade-promotion efforts, a new initiative to combat animal diseases (including a livestock vaccine bank), grant funding for urban and indoor farming, and a provision returning the top USDA position on rural development to a Senate-confirmed post.
Controversial provisions to ease pesticide restrictions and endangered species protections were left out.
Source: Politico, US Senate Roll Call