Critical Farm Bill Continues to be Delayed in House of Representatives

WASHINGTON—The Republican-led House of Representatives continues to be locked in a stalemate over the all-important, and somewhat controversial 2023 Farm Bill.

Because lawmakers are still trying to figure out how to fund the agriculture measure, an actual legislative bill could be far off in the horizon for House Republicans.

Both Republican and Democratic members of the House of Representatives are “hopeful” that a Farm bill will be presented and voted on sometime during the 2024 calendar year.

While Florida’s Rep. Kat Cammack believes that a deal will get done, her Democratic colleague, Rep. Darren Soto, told The Floridian that he was “hopeful” the measure would get to committee before July.

“It’s a hard bill to pass, it takes a big coalition,” said Rep. Soto.

Rep. Soto also stated the little-known fact outside of Florida that agriculture was the “second largest industry” in the state,” and emphasized how important the legislature was for Floridians.

“It’s very important for Florida, its our second largest industry,” said Soto.

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) also said that it was critical that a funding bill for agriculture be introduced and passed in the Congress.

“It’s vitally important that we get a farm bill done,” said Rep. Simpson.

Rep. Simpson added that it was his “impression” the caus of the slowing of the legislative process was due to lawmakers “trying to find out what the total it is they (lawmakers) are trying to spend.”

Simpson also said that his colleagues were also “trying to address the work force,” but like Soto, believed the Farm Bill will be done by he end of the year.

Texas Rep. Jake Ellzey also address how important the Farm Bill was for Americans, but also reiterated that the legislative measure was mostly comprised of welfare subsidies like the SNAP program, and not funding for actual “food crop.”

“And as a fraction of actual farm support, the Farm Bill has very little actual aid attached to it. I can’t remember the percentage but most of it is SNAP. Most of the Farm Bill is SNAP, and people don’t understand that…very little money actually goes to the food crop,” said Rep. Ellzey.