Senate Agriculture Committee Approves Farm Bill with Broad Bipartisan Support
Measure, which includes provisions of the Dairy Security Act, now goes to full Senate for consideration.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry today voted to approve the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, a bipartisan Farm Bill authored by Committee Chairwoman Senator Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Senator Pat Roberts.
The bill reforms food and agricultural policy by eliminating direct payments and emphasizing the need to strengthen risk management tools for farmers, saving billions of dollars. It also includes provisions of the Dairy Security Act.
The measure will now go to the full Senate for consideration.
Overall, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 will reduce the deficit by $23 billion dollars by eliminating unnecessary subsidies, consolidating programs to end duplication, and cracking down on food assistance abuse, according to a statement from the Senate Agriculture Committee today. These reforms allow for the strengthening of key initiatives that help farmers and small businesses reach new markets and create American jobs.
The board of directors of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) commended Stabenow, Roberts and the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee "for their effort to improve federal dairy programs for U.S. dairy farmers."
"By including provisions of the Dairy Security Act in the Agriculture, Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (Farm Bill), the committee has taken an important first step in truly reforming the dairy safety net, providing producers the tools they need to remain competitive in the global market and facilitate the industry’s growth and long-term sustainability," DFA said today.
DFA said the dairy provisions included in the farm bill provide producers options to protect their margins and the ability to strengthen exports, both of which will be instrumental in maintaining the vitality of the U.S. dairy industry.
"We appreciate the support of the committee and look forward to fighting for the bill’s passage on the Senate floor," DFA said.
Read more on the measure here.
