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Senate farm bill differs from House on CCC, food stamp benefits


By Olivia M. Bridges
Posted November 18, 2024 at 4:59pm


The Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday released its long-awaited farm bill draft text with a little more than a month before funding for many farm programs dries up on Dec. 31. The release of the Senate bill could ramp up action during the lame-duck session, but it remains to be seen if lawmakers can complete work on a new farm bill or opt for another extension of the existing one. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer last week urged Congress to make progress on the legislation.

This farm bill will be Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow’s last opportunity to shape farm and nutrition policy before her exit at the end of the 118th Congress. “This is my vision,” Stabenow, D-Mich., said at a press briefing. “It’s important to me to put forward what I believe is a robust bill for farmers and ranchers.”

But the Senate bill still differs from the House bill in ways that may be difficult to overcome in the few legislative weeks available before the 118th Congress ends. The current law expired Sept. 30, but funds many programs through the calendar year. The bills differ over the size of increases to the so-called farm safety net.

Stabenow still says she opposes House Republican efforts to link food stamp benefits to inflation. Her bill also would restrict the Agriculture secretary’s use of Section 5 authority over the Commodity Credit Corporation, but for half the time House Republicans favor. And both bills still need to be paid for. They would raise spending above the baseline and would need to find offsetting revenue or cost cuts — or get the budget committees to override the Congressional Budget Office score.

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https://rollcall.com/2024/11/18/senate-farm-bill-differs-from-house-on-ccc-food-stamp-benefits/