House approves farm bill by veto-proof majority
House approves farm bill by veto-proof majority
WASHINGTON -- The House of representatives overwhelmingly approved the long-awaited farm bill conference report with $3 billion in specialty crop program priorities and a veto-proof majority.
The nearly $300 billion bill passed the House 318-106 -- a large enough majority to override a veto promised by President Bush, who criticized the bill as too pricey and for falling short of needed farm-subsidy reforms.
"In the absence of a good farm bill, I call on Congress to extend current law for at least one year," President Bush said the day before the House approved the bill by a wide margin.
"Both parties cast the majority of votes for this farm bill," Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said at a jubilant press conference following the House vote.
"The nutrition piece is historic," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), adding that millions more people will qualify for federal food support, and more children will get access to fruits and vegetables in schools.
"The bill will invest in biofuels, increase funding for nutrition programs for children and seniors, protect our vital natural resources, create new markets for specialty crops, fight pests and diseases, and reform commodity programs," said Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL).
One of the bigger changes in the farm bill is the new title dedicated to the needs of specialty crops and organic agriculture.
"We're very pleased with the conference report," Robert Guenther, senior vice president at United Fresh Produce Association, told The Produce News. House and Senate conferees agreed to make a significant investment in fruits and vegetables through research, specialty crop block grants, pest and disease programs, nutrition and trade programs, he said.
The farm bill would spend $1 billion on expanding the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Snack Program, $466 million on specialty crop block grants, $377 million on a new pest and disease program, $250 million on the Department of Defense Fresh Program, $230 million on a Specialty Crop Research Initiative, $200 million a year on the Market Access Program, and additionally will finance other programs.
It maintains the policy that growers who receive federal payments cannot plant fruits and vegetables on subsidized acreage, and it locks up the compromise country-of-origin labeling provisions.
After the Senate votes, the bill is expected to go to President Bush by May 20. If he vetoes the bill, Congress could vote to override the veto before Congress goes home for Memorial Day recess, said Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN).
Groups such as the Grocery Manufacturers Association are urging President Bush to veto the bill because "it sets no meaningful limits on who can receive crop subsidies," said Scott Openshaw, communications director of the association.
But Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) said that although the bill was not perfect, it provided common-sense improvements to the subsidy programs.
"While people didn't get everything they wanted, the country got what it needed," he said. "For the first time in the history of the farm bill, lawmakers, conservationists, nutrition advocates and farmers from all regions of the country support the overall bill."
The nearly $300 billion bill passed the House 318-106 -- a large enough majority to override a veto promised by President Bush, who criticized the bill as too pricey and for falling short of needed farm-subsidy reforms.
"In the absence of a good farm bill, I call on Congress to extend current law for at least one year," President Bush said the day before the House approved the bill by a wide margin.
"Both parties cast the majority of votes for this farm bill," Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said at a jubilant press conference following the House vote.
"The nutrition piece is historic," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), adding that millions more people will qualify for federal food support, and more children will get access to fruits and vegetables in schools.
"The bill will invest in biofuels, increase funding for nutrition programs for children and seniors, protect our vital natural resources, create new markets for specialty crops, fight pests and diseases, and reform commodity programs," said Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL).
One of the bigger changes in the farm bill is the new title dedicated to the needs of specialty crops and organic agriculture.
"We're very pleased with the conference report," Robert Guenther, senior vice president at United Fresh Produce Association, told The Produce News. House and Senate conferees agreed to make a significant investment in fruits and vegetables through research, specialty crop block grants, pest and disease programs, nutrition and trade programs, he said.
The farm bill would spend $1 billion on expanding the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Snack Program, $466 million on specialty crop block grants, $377 million on a new pest and disease program, $250 million on the Department of Defense Fresh Program, $230 million on a Specialty Crop Research Initiative, $200 million a year on the Market Access Program, and additionally will finance other programs.
It maintains the policy that growers who receive federal payments cannot plant fruits and vegetables on subsidized acreage, and it locks up the compromise country-of-origin labeling provisions.
After the Senate votes, the bill is expected to go to President Bush by May 20. If he vetoes the bill, Congress could vote to override the veto before Congress goes home for Memorial Day recess, said Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN).
Groups such as the Grocery Manufacturers Association are urging President Bush to veto the bill because "it sets no meaningful limits on who can receive crop subsidies," said Scott Openshaw, communications director of the association.
But Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) said that although the bill was not perfect, it provided common-sense improvements to the subsidy programs.
"While people didn't get everything they wanted, the country got what it needed," he said. "For the first time in the history of the farm bill, lawmakers, conservationists, nutrition advocates and farmers from all regions of the country support the overall bill."
