Six of every 10 House Republicans signed a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson asking for a floor vote on the new farm bill during the lame-duck session of Congress, arguing that the legislation is a “must-pass item.” The letter was released on Thursday, a day after House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries listed the farm bill as one of his three top priorities for action after the Nov. 5 general election.
Action on the farm bill has been deadlocked for months by disagreements over SNAP funding, higher crop subsidy spending, and climate mitigation. The Republican-controlled House Agriculture Committee approved a farm bill in late May, but it is over budget. The Senate has not advanced beyond informal outlines of a bill.
In all, 140 of the 220 Republicans in the House signed the letter, including House Agriculture chairman Glenn Thompson. After pointing to high production costs and a decline in commodity prices, the representatives said, “We respectfully urge that the enactment of H.R. 8467, or similar legislation that makes meaningful investments in farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, is among the top priorities of the Republican Conference and that this be considered a ‘must-pass’ item in the lame-duck session of the 118th Congress.”
Republicans have proposed a 15 percent increase in so-called reference prices, which act as triggers for crop subsidy payments; a $29 billion cut in SNAP; and allowing climate mitigation funds to be spent on stewardship projects that do not sequester carbon or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Democrats oppose cuts in SNAP and want to keep the climate “guardrails” in place. Senate Agriculture Committee chairwoman Debbie Stabenow has suggested a 5 percent increase in reference prices.