Reid Reintroduces Senate Farm Bill to Maintain Momentum Behind New Legislation
February 6, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reintroduced into the Senate the same farm bill that previously passed the full Senate last summer, as a signal that the chamber plans to move aggressively on passing a new farm bill in 2013.
The 2013 farm bill has been formally designated as S. 10, making it part of a short list of priority pieces of legislation awaiting action in the Senate. NMPF applauded Reid’s decision, saying that “it recognizes that the dairy policy reforms contained in the bill, along with other provisions in the measure, passed with overwhelming, bipartisan support last summer. The bill’s Dairy Security Act will give farmers a better safety net while reducing taxpayer costs at a time when Congress is searching for ways to trim federal spending,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF.
“We look forward to working with Senator Reid, as well as with Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and new ranking minority member Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), as the Committee updates the Farm Bill in the coming weeks. We will continue our bipartisan efforts in both the Senate and House to get a five-year farm bill passed that provide our producers the security and stability they need.”