With the farm bill potentially days away from congressional approval, House and Senate negotiators are ready to let distant relatives of farmers qualify for crop subsidies, said an ag lobbyist. Agricultural leaders in Congress hope to release details of the 2018 farm bill early this week, which would open the path to a final vote in each chamber in a matter of days.
Conservative Republicans in the House lamented the scuttling of their attempt at welfare reform in the farm bill, a proposal that an estimated 7 million “work capable” adults aged 18-59 work at least 20 hours a week or spend equivalent time in job training or workfare to qualify for food stamps. “Unfortunately, only modest reforms were made,” said House Agriculture Committee member Jodey Arrington of Texas on social media.
With removal of the SNAP language, the farm bill would be status-quo legislation that tweaks farm subsidies and USDA programs. That’s the bill that farm groups expected early this year because there was no additional funding for striking initiatives. An ag reformer said farm bill negotiators deleted a Senate proposal for tighter farm subsidy rules “but amazingly nieces, nephews and cousins remains.” The House would expand eligibility for subsidies from lineal family members to “your whole extended family,” said the activist.
House Republican leaders initially said a vote on the farm bill could come as early as Wednesday, but the funeral of former president George H.W. Bush is scheduled for that day, so action may be delayed. The government will be closed on Wednesday as a day of mourning for Bush.
House Agriculture chairman Michael Conaway said the administration, which supports new and stronger work requirements for social programs, is likely to support the farm bill nonetheless, reported Bloomberg.