Minority Leader’s refusal to support FARRM Bill damaging to Hoosier farmers

(Washington, DC) – Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) released the following statement regarding Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s decision not to support the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013, resulting in only 24 Democrats voting in favor of the bill.

Rep. Bucshon (IN-08) states:

“I keep in constant contact with my Agriculture Advisory Committee and I consistently hear from them that the status quo is inefficient and unacceptable. Unfortunately, Minority Leader Pelosi and her colleagues refused to support American farmers by blocking this much needed bill. Had the House bill passed, we could have gone to conference with the Senate and agreed to a five year bill on behalf of our citizens.

“While this bill was not perfect, I supported this conservative measure because it implements commonsense, significant reforms necessary to create stability and certainty for Hoosier farmers and consumers.”

Highlights of the FARRM Act of 2013:

· Saves nearly $40 billion in mandatory funds, including the immediate sequestration of $6 billion.

· Improves upon crop insurance programs.

· Repeals or consolidates more than 100 programs and consolidates 23 conservation programs into 13, improving program delivery to producers and saving more than $6 billion.

· Eliminates direct payments, which farmers received regardless of market conditions.

· Includes several regulatory relief measures to help mitigate burdens farmers, ranchers, and rural communities face.

· Strengthens and fully funds livestock disaster assistance, which were ended in 2011.

· Includes the first real reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) since the

· Welfare Reform Act of 1996. These reforms save more than $20 billion, while ensuring those who apply and are approved to the program, receive assistance more efficiently and effectively.

o Eliminates USDA’s use of taxpayer money to advertise SNAP.

o Ends the process of granting lottery winners and traditional college students food stamps.

o Ensures states stop ignoring asset and income tests in SNAP law.

o Ends loopholes in SNAP including categorical eligibility and “heat and eat”

o Eliminates bonuses for states that administer SNAP.

BACKGROUND:

Bucshon has an Agriculture Advisory Committee consisting of a broad group of Hoosiers from the agriculture community, including farmers from different sectors and representatives from Indiana Farm Bureau, USDA, and other organizations.

The House passed a temporary extension of the current farm bill on January 1, 2013 that is set to expire on September 30th, 2013.

The House Agriculture Committee approved H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013 on May 16, 2013 with a bipartisan vote of 36 to 10.

H.R. 1947 failed to pass the House 195 to 234 with 171 Republicans and 24 Democrats voting in favor and 62 Republicans and 171 Democrats voting against.