GOP has leverage now after the House advanced its version of the bill
Abbot, 6/5/2024 --- Master's degree in Public Affairs Reporting at Sangamon State University, Editor of the daily electronic newsletter Ag Insider, covered U.S. food and agriculture policy in its many forms since 1988, from farm bills (six so far) and crop insurance reform to school lunch, ag research, biofuels and the Dietary Guidelines (June 5, 2024, Chuck Abbott, “Stabenow says farm bill passage is within reach this year; Stabenow released a farm bill outline a month ago, and Senate Republicans are expected to respond with a farm bill framework soon,” https://www.agriculture.com/stabenow-says-farm-bill-passage-is-within-reach-this-year-8658515, JMP))
Stabenow released a farm bill outline a month ago, and Senate Republicans are expected to respond with a farm bill framework soon. Stabenow’s outline rejects cuts in SNAP, keeps the guardrails on a windfall $15 billion earmarked for climate mitigation, and offers an increase in reference prices of at least 5 percent for row crops.
Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, the senior Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, also presses for farm bill passage this year and believes the GOP has leverage with approval of a Republican-written farm bill by the House Agriculture Committee on May 24. That bill would increase crop subsidy and crop insurance outlays by $53 billion, cut SNAP by $10 billion, and allow climate funding to be spent on any conservation practice whether or not it captures carbon or reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Boozman has expressed similar goals, which contradict Stabenow’s outline.
“It is so critical that the path [of action] maintain the long tradition of respecting the needs and interests of the broad farm and food coalition,” said Stabenow during a subcommittee hearing on beginning farmers. “That’s how we get it done. That’s the foundation for a successful farm bill.”