USA: Farm Bill passes Senate
Thursday June 21, 2012/
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry/ USA.
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
The Senate approved the bipartisan Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, S. 3240, also known as the Farm Bill, with a vote of 64-35. The House Agriculture Committee has yet to begin marking-up their version of the bill.
Every five years, Congress passes a bundle of legislation, commonly called the "Farm Bill" that sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy. The last Farm Bill was passed in 2008, and expires in 2012.
The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240) represents the most significant reforms in agricultural policy in decades. The bill ends direct payments, streamlines and consolidates programs, and reduces the deficit by $23 billion. It also strengthens top priorities that help farmers, ranchers, and small business owners continue to grow our economy.