WASHINGTON, September 13, 2012- Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, filed his discharge petition to force the House farm bill to the floor today. If at least 218 House members sign the petition, leaders are forced to bring the legislation to the floor for a vote.
“Now that we, a group of Democrats and Republicans, have filed this discharge petition, and it’s available for signatures, we’ll see who really supports the Farm Bill Now,” he said. View other representatives on the petition here.
The five-year farm bill passed through the House Agriculture Committee in July by a 35-11 margin.
Boehner and House leaders cited problems getting 218 votes for the bill to pass in the House. Several conservatives want the full $33 billion in spending reductions from nutrition programs, which is included in the House-passed budget. The farm bill passed through the House Agriculture Committee includes $16 billion in food welfare cuts, which some Democrats oppose altogether.
With the current farm bill expiring on September 30, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said without new legislation, “we are somewhat limited in our capacity to help” at USDA.
“I’m deeply concerned about the failure of Congress to pass a farm bill, which creates uncertainty in the countryside and makes it difficult for farmers to plan for next year,” he said today. “It continues to be important that this job get done.”
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