Lawmakers warn about battle for next farm bill
Lawmakers warn about battle for next farm bill
WASHINGTON — The next farm bill may not look like the hard-fought 2014 version as critics continue to advocate for splitting farm policy from food stamps in the next bill, lawmakers told attendees of the United Fresh Produce Association's Washington Conference, here.
Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of United Fresh, kicked off the meeting with a promise of no government shutdown during the three-day meeting, a reference to last year's budget impasse that forced Congress and federal agencies to shut their offices during the Washington Conference.
Even though Congress plans to cut its legislating session short to campaign for the midterm elections in November, the two-day lobbying blitz sends a message on key issues lawmakers should take up later this year and next, Stenzel said.
"You've got to keep up the pressure," he said. Changes on key issues, such as immigration reform, might not come in the next few weeks, but "we expect it next year." United Fresh has organized the largest produce fly-in to visit House offices Sept. 9 and Senate offices Sept. 10.
Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), a long-time champion on agriculture issues who received the Congressional Leadership Award Sept. 9 from United Fresh at the conference, said the last farm bill was "very difficult to get done."
Some believe the bill's overwhelming emphasis on costly feeding programs is overshadowing the farm legislation, and that's "unsustainable," Hastings said. It will be a political challenge to get the next bill through Congress, he warned.
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), who followed Hastings at the breakfast session, said splitting the farm and food stamps would prove dangerous to the agriculture industry. Roberts acknowledged, though, he's heard predictions the massive, five-year 2014 farm bill "may be the last one."
Roberts criticized President Obama for announcing immigration reform would wait until after the elections. On the legislative front, however, Roberts said he doesn't expect to see progress on labor issues until after the election.
Hastings focused his talk on the need for Congress to reform the Endangered Species Act, which he blamed on water shortages that have damaged the agriculture industry.
