Environment & Energy Publishing: Conservation a priority among 100-plus farm bill amendments chosen for debate
The House this week will vote on a bipartisan provision that would require farmers to comply with basic conservation requirements in order to receive subsidies for crop insurance.
If passed, the measure would represent a major win for rural conservation groups, which have identified it as their top priority in the reauthorization of the five-year farm bill. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) introduced the measure this week as an amendment to the bill.
"It is a common-sense policy, a good conservation initiative and widely agreed upon," Fortenberry said yesterday. "To me that makes a recipe for a good vote."
It was not immediately clear whether the amendment would receive a vote today or tomorrow. Late last night, the House Rules Committee decided to allow the amendment to receive debate on the floor.
House members filed a total of more than 220 amendments to the bill. Of those, the House Rules Committee sent 103 to debate on the floor with the goal of voting for final passage of the bill, H.R. 1947, this week. The huge number of amendments to get through, though, could mean debate spills into next week.
Others chosen to receive debate include:
An amendment by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) would direct USDA to report to Congress on the economic implications of fraud and mislabeling in wild and farmed seafood.