Congresswoman McCollum Rejects GOP Effort to Strip Away Nutrition Programs in a New Farm Bill

For Immediate Release:  July 9, 2013                                         
Contact:  Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov

Congresswoman McCollum Rejects GOP Effort to Strip Away Nutrition Programs in a New Farm Bill

Washington, DC – Today, House Republicans are attempting to neutralize its party’s loss on the Farm Bill by removing nutrition programs from the current bill for a separate vote.  Last month, 62 House GOP Members went against leadership and opposed the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947).

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement:

“House Republicans embarrassed themselves when their Farm Bill was rejected by 62 of their own members. The new GOP desperate scheme to bring a micro-Farm Bill to the House floor without nutrition programs is a display of political arrogance that destroys House tradition and regular order.”

“I completely reject this Republican move to play political games with the livelihoods of U.S. farmers and the lives of hungry Americans. It is time for the House to take up and pass the bipartisan Senate Farm Bill.”

Over 530 national organizations signed a letter to Speaker Boehner, opposing splitting the Farm Bill.

“Farm bills represent a delicate balance between America’s farm, nutrition, conservation, and other priorities, and accordingly require strong bipartisan support,” the letter stated.  “…We believe that splitting the nutrition title from the rest of the bill could result in neither farm nor nutrition programs passing, and urge you to move a unified farm bill forward.”

Minnesota groups that signed onto the letter include:

Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative

Minnesota Canola Council

Minnesota Corn Growers Association

Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation

Minnesota Farmers Union

Minnesota Forest Industries

Minnesota Grain & Feed Association

Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers

Minnesota Pork Producers Association

Minnesota Timber Producers Association

Congresswoman Betty McCollum is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and is Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

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