Murphy Supports Bipartisan Farm Bill Compromise

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) voted in favor of the bipartisan FARM Bill, which directs policies that support our nation's farmers and nutrition assistance programs. The final conference report included investments in water conservation efforts, community food projects, and bio-based energy while making smart reforms to save American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. The local citrus industry will greatly benefit from funding included in the bill for specialty crops, including $125 million for citrus greening research funding. This funding is in addition to the $20 million that was allocated through the recent bipartisan spending bill for the USDA's emergency response team on citrus greening. (Click here to read more about this initiative).

"It is great to see Congress continue 2014 on strong bipartisan footing, moving forward on a long overdue FARM Bill to help local farmers and keep food safe and affordable. This important bill makes smart investments in much-needed agricultural research, which is essential to the well being of our local citrus industry that is currently plagued by citrus greening. It also supports vital regional conservation efforts that will assist area farmers with water storage projects and encourages more participation in these efforts that can help improve the health of our local waterways. Additionally, the bill makes many reforms to save American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. While these and many other provisions in the FARM Bill are major wins for our local economy, as with any compromise, there were policies included that I do not agree with. I remain concerned by the inclusion of cuts to vital food assistance for low-income families and children but was pleased to see these cuts were not as deep as originally proposed and that the legislation provides critical support for food banks and community food projects. Overall, this legislation struck a much needed balance to provide direction for our nation's farm and nutrition assistance programs that had been caught up in partisan gridlock for far too long."

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