Farm Bill Action Moves to the House Next

The House Agriculture Committee will delay consideration of its version of the Farm Bill until after the July 4 recess. Meanwhile, Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), with 17 cosponsors, has introduced a marker bill to provide strong, mandatory and discretionary funding for the energy title, and Representatives Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Tom Latham (R-IA) as well as ten colleagues from both sides of the aisle sent a letter to the chair and ranking member of the Agriculture Committee urging reauthorization of the Farm Bill energy title programs.

On June 21, Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK) , chair of the House Agriculture Committee , and ranking member Collin Peterson (D-MN) commended the Senate’s passage of the Farm Bill, but indicated that the House would take its own approach. The Committee mark up of the House Farm Bill is now scheduled for July 11. The current 2008 Farm Bill expires on September 30.

On June 18, Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) introduced the Rural Energy Investment Act of 2012 (H.R. 5955) , along with 17 cosponsors, including: Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Leonard Boswell (D-IA), Bruce Braley (D-IA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Donna Christensen (D-VI), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Ron Kind (D-WS), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Ben Lujan (D-NM), Michael Michaud (D-ME), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Laura Richardson (D-CA), Tim Ryan (D-OH), and Tim Walz (D-MN).

On June 12, Representatives Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Tom Latham (R-IA) and ten colleagues from both sides of the aisle sent this letter to the chair and ranking member of the Agriculture Committee urging reauthorization of the Farm Bill energy title programs.