WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer, John Boozman and Roger Marshall criticized Democrats after the Senate Agriculture Committee voted against advancing the farm bill.
The disagreement centers around a proposal requiring states with high Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rates to take on a greater share of program costs. Democrats have pushed for a longer implementation timeline, while Republicans have proposed a shorter delay.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) said he was deeply disappointed by the outcome, arguing that the legislation would have provided needed support and certainty for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
“We have a responsibility to stand with America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities,” Boozman said in a statement. “Blocking the farm bill only adds to the uncertainty and hardship.”
Boozman said the legislation was designed to be bipartisan and included more than 100 bipartisan bills and priorities, including updates to farm programs, rural development efforts and authorization for year-round sales of E15.
The chairman said the bill was also coordinated with the administration with the goal of moving it through Congress and sending it to the president for signature.
“America’s farmers and ranchers have pleaded for more farm in the farm bill,” Boozman said. “Republicans provided it and Democrats rejected it, and they simply cannot afford continued delays.”
In a statement, Fischer called the committee vote “disgraceful,” saying Democrats turned their backs on farmers, ranchers and rural America despite bipartisan support for year-round E15 and a compromise on SNAP cost-share concerns.
“What did the Democrats do? They voted against every policy they claim to care about: funding food banks, improving rural and mental health services, increasing access to safe drinking water, and expanded broadband connectivity.”
Fischer said the committee’s decision was a disservice to producers and rural communities, adding she hopes lawmakers “wake up and realize the pain this will inflict on American families.”
Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas told RFD News that Democrats voted against moving the bill forward, citing a dispute over changes to SNAP as the primary reason for the breakdown.
Marshall said he was disappointed that lawmakers were unable to advance legislation that included several bipartisan agricultural priorities, including year-round E15, expanded crop protection support, higher USDA loan limits, rural broadband investments and farmer mental health resources.
“It’s just horrible news for the American farmer and rancher,” Marshall said. “This bill was full of bipartisan priorities, but they’re hung up on wanting states to be accountable when they have a high error rate administering SNAP.”
The failed vote comes just before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess. Marshall said he believes the farm bill can still move forward later this year, but lawmakers will need to hear directly from producers while they are home.
“When these senators go home for this break, they’ve got to look farmers and rural America in the eyes and explain why they voted against this farm bill,” Marshall said.
He said he hopes conversations with producers will encourage lawmakers to return in September and find a compromise.
“I’m going to go home and lick my wounds, but we’ll get back up tomorrow and keep at it—just like my farmers are going to wake up tomorrow morning and keep at it as well,” Marshall said.
The Senate Agriculture Committee’s failure to advance the bill means negotiations will continue as lawmakers look for a path forward before the end of the year.
