Thursday June 21, 2018 U.S. Representatives Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, Mike Rogers, R-Saks, and Bradley Byrne, R-Montrose, voted in favor of HR2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act, also known as the 2018 Farm Bill. This bill passed the House by just two votes 213 to 211.
Congressman Rogers said, “I was pleased today to see the Farm Bill finally pass the House of Representatives. As the only member of the House Agriculture Committee from the State of Alabama, I know firsthand the Agriculture industry makes up over 40 percent of our state’s economy and that our farmers and producers count on this legislation every five years.”
“I am proud to serve Alabama’s Second District where agriculture is the largest employer, responsible for more than 93,000 jobs and more than $11 billion in economic impact,” Congresswoman Roby said. “I know how critically important it is that Congress deliver agriculture policy that actually works for farmers throughout Alabama and our country and makes their important work easier, not harder. I was glad to be a voice for Alabama’s farmers throughout the process to ensure that our commodities receive fair treatment. This farm bill addresses many of the challenges farmers face daily, and that’s why I was proud to cast my vote in favor of the legislation today.”
Congressman Byrne said: “Our farmers and foresters are good stewards of the land, and I am pleased the House could pass this important legislation to ensure that our family farms and rural communities have the resources they need to keep up with the challenges of today.”
The bill is controversial because of requirements that able-bodied persons seeking nutrition assistance work.
“Also important, the Farm Bill will encourage able-bodied adults to find jobs and get back to work by reinforcing work requirements in order to receive SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps,: Byrne added. “In this economy, there is no excuse for capable Americans to not seek out employment. By encouraging Americans to find and retain jobs, we ultimately lift people out of poverty, strengthen the overall economy, and help save taxpayer money.”
“This year, the legislation will help people pull themselves out of the cycle of poverty because it makes meaningful reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),” Congressman Rogers added. “It helps to incentivize all able-bodied individuals to work part-time or receive free training they need to find a job. Keep in mind, this does not apply to children, the elderly, expectant mothers, disabled individuals or caretakers of children.”
Each year, Congressman Byrne holds an “Ag Matters” tour and visits family farms and forest land throughout Southwest Alabama. The Farm Bill is one of the most talked about items each year.
“This year, the Farm Bill also provides support for Land Grant universities like Auburn and Tuskegee. It also helps our area because it will bring quality broadband service to rural areas – like much of East Alabama – where folks need the service the most. The Farm Bill will be good for our area and I was glad to see it pass the House with my full support today,” Rogers said.
Congressman Mike Rogers is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee which crafts the farm bill.
Congressman Byrne’s office said that among the many important provisions, the bill:
Includes provisions critically important to Alabama’s cotton and peanut farmers
Maintains access to crop insurance through reduced premiums and waived fees
Improves existing programs to maximize efficiency, reduces waste and maintains fiscally responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars
Restores funding for trade promotion efforts in an attempt to keep pace with trading competitors around the world
Establishes substantive work requirements for work-capable adults
Increases funding to $60 million per year for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, with $20 million to be used for the Farm-to-Food Bank program providing inexpensive food for low-income families;
Provides strong incentives for providers to offer quality broadband service to all of rural America
Helps equip and train the next generation of farmers
Supporters say that “the Agriculture & Nutrition Act of 2018 works to address the 5-year, 52-percent decline in the farm economy by providing certainty that an extension of current policy cannot provide. The bill reauthorizes and strengthens the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) options through 2023. Producers are given an opportunity to make a new election between ARC and PLC with several improvements, including allowing a new yield update opportunity for producers who were facing severe drought during the previous yield update, allowing reference prices to adjust to improved market conditions, and prioritizing the use of RMA data for administering ARC to minimize disparities between counties.”
The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for its consideration.
