Stabenow says she's 'appalled' the House hasn't taken up a farm bill

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said she’s “appalled” that Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) hasn’t made farmers and ranchers a “priority” in the House.

“I am appalled continually that the Republican leadership of the United States House of Representatives doesn’t not consider the security the livelihood of 16 million people who live in rural America across this country a priority, worth including in a final list of things that need to get done,” Stabenow said on the floor Wednesday. 

Stabenow said it’s been 80 days since the farm bill expired. She has urged the House to take up the Senate passed-version or even the House committee version so that farmers and ranchers would have stability in a time where there have been record droughts.

“We have had 80 days since the farm bill expired,” Stabenow said. “Eighty days since family farms and small businesses have been holding their breath to see what would happen across America.”

Stabenow said Boehner and President Obama could include a farm bill in an overall deficit reduction package that they are working on to avoid the “fiscal cliff.” She also said she would support an amendment for drought relief for farmers to an emergency-spending bill being considered in the Senate for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

“We have a disaster bill on the floor,” Stabenow said. “ And I’m not going to allow this bill to go through without considering farm disaster provisions.”

The Senate started consideration this week of H.R. 1 as a vehicle to provide $60 billion to Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, but some conservatives have said the bill has unnecessary spending measures, during a time when lawmakers are trying to make spending cuts.

Stabenow said even if emergency provisions for farmers are included in the supplemental bill, that a five-year farm bill is still needed.

---