Update on Farm Bill situation

NACD Legislative Update:  In June, the U.S. Senate successfully passed a 2013 Farm Bill with a bipartisan vote, and the House of Representatives split the Farm Bill, passing a partial farm-only 2013 bill while cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The House has not yet taken up the nutrition title, though they may do so in September with even greater SNAP cuts totaling $40 billion.  
 
Senate Farm Bill Conferees have been named as follows:
·                     Democrats
o        Debbie Stabenow, Mich.
o        Patrick Leahy, Vt.
o        Tom Harkin, Iowa
o        Max Baucus, Mont.
o        Sherrod Brown, Ohio
o        Amy Klobuchar, Minn.
o        Michael Bennet, Colo.
·                     Republicans
o        Thad Cochran, Miss.
o        Pat Roberts, Kan.
o        Saxby Chambliss, Ga.
o        John Boozman, Ark.
o        John Hoeven, N.D.

Tim Walz, Ranking Member of House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry, along with 50 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, urged Speaker Boehner to take immediate action and convene a Farm Bill conference committee before adjourning for the five-week August recess. The House adjourned for the August recess (which ends on September 9) without naming Conferees. Once they return, they will have only nine working days left in Congress before the expiration of the current farm bill.