WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — Lawmakers are back on Capitol Hill with little time left to pass a farm bill before the current session of Congress ends, potentially forcing negotiations to start over next year.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman says discussions are moving forward in both chambers as congressional leaders work to resolve their remaining differences.
“As we speak, the four corners, the ranking and chair of the committee in the House, committee in the Senate, their staffs are meeting, trying to work out our differences. We’ve had good success in doing that. We’ll have a few things that we can’t agree on. We’ll push those up to leadership and see how we decide. We’re close, and I think that we’ve got an excellent chance of getting this done. We’ve got this narrow window to get this done. If we’re not careful, we’re going to lose the farm bill, not get it done.”
Boozman also expressed confidence in finding common ground with Democrats, including Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, as farmers continue to face financial challenges.
“I know she wants to get it done. I think the average member of Congress wants to get it done. There’s all kinds of reasons. The biggest reason is that if any person has talked to a farmer lately, they understand that it just doesn’t pencil out, that they’re really struggling.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has also expressed interest in getting the farm bill passed. Meanwhile, the House Freedom Caucus has urged Republicans to support the legislation only if it is fiscally responsible and helps lower prices for Americans.
