Sen. Carper urges House to act on farm bill now, before it expires

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) called on House leadership Monday to pass a farm bill before adjourning.

The House is scheduled to adjourn for the election recess Friday, and a farm bill was not on the list of bills the body would take up this week. The farm bill expires at the end of this month.

"I urge House leaders to step up and allow a much-needed vote on a bipartisan, long-term extension of the farm bill," Carper said in a statement Monday. "Unfortunately, it appears that House leaders are once again postponing difficult decisions that could — and should — be made now until after the election.”

The Senate passed a farm bill earlier this summer and the House Agriculture Committee has passed its own version, but Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) hasn’t allowed a floor vote on either.

“The House bill isn't perfect but it is a step in the right direction and certainly far better than allowing this critical program to expire,” Carper said. “The House should pass its farm bill so we can reconcile the differences between the two bills and get something done for the American people.”

Carper pointed out that the Senate version actually reduces the deficit. He also said that, during a time of terrible drought across the country, farmers need reassurance.

“In a time when we need to protect our drought- and heat-affected farmers, House leaders need to do the responsible thing and pass a bill soon," Carper said.

Senate Democrats have said that if a long-term farm bill is not passed by the end of September, laws would revert to Depression-era agriculture policy, including costly subsidies and price controls, harming farmers.

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