Two North Florida Republicans who serve on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee will be part of the House team as negotiations begin with the U.S. Senate on the farm bill.
U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway. R-Texas, the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, named Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Neal Dunn and Ted Yoho as part of the House side that will conference with the Senate over the farm bill. There are some major differences between the versions passed by both sides with the House including reforms to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in its take on the farm bill.
“Today, we move one step closer to delivering a strong, new farm bill to the president’s desk on time as he has called on Congress to do," Conaway said on Wednesday. “America's farmers and ranchers and rural America are struggling right now and they deserve the certainty of a strong farm bill to see them through to better times. The House has pulled together a solid team of conferees – including Rep. Dunn. I’m looking forward to working with Neal, who has been a strong voice for agriculture through this process, and the rest of our House and Senate colleagues to reach a final product that helps millions of low-income Americans climb the economic ladder, while standing by our nation’s hard-working farm and ranch families.”
For his part, Dunn, a freshman, welcomed the new assignment.
“I am honored to represent our farmers in Florida and the Second District on the bicameral Farm Bill Conference Committee,” said Dunn. “We all depend on a thriving agriculture industry and we need to ensure that this farm bill works for all of our producers. Agriculture is a risky business, and while Congress can’t control the weather, we can create a climate of sound, consistent farm policy to help farmers and ranchers manage risks as they produce affordable, safe and abundant food and fiber. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to produce legislation that will give our farmers, ranchers, and foresters a sense of certainty.”
Conaway also praised Yoho who served as a large animal veteran for three and a half decades before being elected to Congress in 2012.
“I am honored to be one out of 429 House members chosen to participate in the final negotiation of the 2018 Farm Bill,” Yoho said. “Representing the farmers and ranchers of my district and the great state of Florida is a privilege I do not take lightly. We have a unique opportunity to provide certainty and security to the hard-working families who put food on our table every day. Additionally, I want to ensure the reforms we made, from nutritional programs to crop insurance, remain intact. I have been around agriculture most of my life, and I will always fight for those who work in acres not hours. I want to thank Chairman Conaway for his leadership on the agriculture committee and for getting us one step closer to the finish line.”
