A New Farm Bill: Capitol Solutions

Statement

Iowans and Americans across the country are optimistic about the economy. Large and small businesses are giving bonuses to workers, expanding their operations with new workers, and upgrading their equipment. While we continue to make great strides, more must be done to help our farmers and agriculture community.

About every five years Congress considers a new Farm Bill -- legislation shaping our nation's agriculture policy. The current Farm Bill expires this year, giving us a chance to renew and reevaluate our farms programs.

The proposed Farm Bill, the Agriculture & Nutrition Act of 2018, contains provisions from crop insurance and animal health to conservation and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps.

I'm pleased this Farm Bill includes my work to reduce burdensome regulations hindering farmers' ability to implement conservation and crop protection tools.

My bill, the WATER Act, was included in the Farm Bill. The WATER Act will help improve soil health and further water quality practices by improving research and creating an easy to use and publically accessible database so farmers and conservationists can see what practices work best on various types of soil and topographies.

Another one of my bills, the STRESS Act, was also included in the Farm Bill. Agriculture workers take their lives at a rate higher than any other occupation and the STESS Act provides resources for those who are struggling.

The Agriculture & Nutrition Act also includes policies strengthening our rural communities which has been a priority of mine in Congress. It authorizes substantial funding for rural broadband and infrastructure. This is desperately needed so our rural areas have the communication tools and resources they need to help them thrive.

Programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers were protected and enhanced in the bill. And it expands the scholarship program for students interested in careers in agriculture.

Last year, my bill addressing agroterrorism and ensuring the federal government has a response plan for threats to our food supply was signed into law. This Farm Bill builds on this law and creates a new National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program to help protect the health of our livestock and secure our food supply.

The traditional farm programs and food stamps have historically been tied together in the Farm Bill to ensure both are passed. Close to eighty percent of the Farm Bill's funding is food stamps. Food stamps are critical for struggling families across the Third District.

The bill includes funding for food stamps while strengthening existing work requirements and eliminating vague and outdated work mandates which are full of loopholes and created disincentives to work.

The updated provisions require able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 59 without dependents to spend 20 hours a week participating in a combination of work, a work program, or SNAP Employment and Training (E&T). For nearly two thirds of all food stamp recipients, this changes nothing because children, seniors over the age of 60, and those with disabilities are not classified as an able-bodied worker and are exempt from these reasonable requirements.

This investment will help people who can work get back into the workforce so they no longer need to use food stamps and have the prospect of greater financial security and a better standard of living.

I worked with folks from across the Third District, especially farmers and conservationists, to bring their voice to the Farm Bill. As the House moves forward with this legislation, I'll continue working towards the best policies for our farmers, producers, and rural communities.

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