Sides too far apart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House Agriculture Committee on Friday released a long-awaited farm bill draft that includes provisions to reduce spending on food aid for the poor and efforts to help farmers fight climate change, drawing opposition from Democrats.

Congress faces steep odds to pass a farm bill this session as the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-majority Senate remain far apart. The bill is expected to cost $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

The legislation, which funds nutrition, conservation, and commodity programs, is traditionally passed every five years. The 2018 law expired in September, and Congress extended it for a year. Lawmakers could do that again if they fail to pass new legislation.

The draft presented by the House Agriculture Committee is "the product of extensive feedback from stakeholders and all members of the House, and is responsive to the needs of farm country through the incorporation of hundreds of bipartisan policies," said House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn "GT" Thompson in a statement.

The bill would cut spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which funds food benefits for low-income families, by $27 billion over 10 years, a committee aide said.

The savings result from restricting the Department of Agriculture's authority to update the cost of a sample grocery budget that underlies the benefit calculation.

Benefits would continue to rise with inflation, a committee aide said. The bill would also allow people with past felony drug offenses to receive SNAP.

Anti-hunger groups have said they oppose any cuts.