Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), says a new Farm Bill can get passed more quickly if all the parties involved get serious.
“We can get this done if people are serious about it. I’m serious about it. If people want to come together and do it in a bipartisan way, which we’ve always done, and do the doable, we can absolutely pass a Farm Bill.”
Sen. Debbie Stabenow
The biggest issue on getting key agricultural legislation passed is how funding is allocated. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) Tom Vilsack has suggested a remedy through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds.
However, Chairwoman Stabenow says using CCC funds just one solution.
“But [the] CCC is part of that. The commitment that Senator [Chuck] Schumer made to me — to add some additional money — [it is] unheard of, to find some money outside the Farm Bill to put in. We’re looking at everything we can. Frankly, I think this is very doable in reference prices.”
Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Once the Farm Bill reaches Stabenow’s panel, she says she wants to focus on crop insurance and getting the quickest payout for producers.
