New Energy Programs in House Passed Farm Bill

For Immediate Release: July 27, 2007
For More Information Contact: Jetta Wong (202) 662-1885

On July 27, 2007, the House of Representatives passed, with a of vote 231-191,The Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419). The bill includes new investments in conservation, nutrition, specialty crops (fruit and vegetable) and energy production. Furthermore, the Committee also approved language that will allow full implementation of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for meat in the Farm Bill and also making additional changes to the farm subsidy program. The bill includes what the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) says is a “critical first step toward reform.”

The bill proceeded to the floor following the Committee’s unanimously approval last week after long nights of debate and compromise. Before the House could start debate on this bipartisan bill, the House Rules Committee allowed controversial provisions to be added to offset the increased funding for nutrition and energy programs. The House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Rep. Goodlatte (R-VA) then stated, “This is partisan politics in its rawest form and Agriculture Committee Republicans will stand against it [the bill],” – causing the bill to lose bipartisan support, which is uncommon for a Farm Bill.