Donnelly issues statement on inaction of Congress on Farm Bill

“I am disappointed that partisan gridlock prevented us from voting on a Farm Bill before it expires,” said Donnelly. “Hoosier farmers deserved a vote on the Farm Bill this week. Our farmers face an incredible amount of uncertainty, whether it’s from Mother Nature or market prices. It is disappointing that Congress’ inaction will now be a cause for concern as well.

“This time of year, there are a number of folks in this town that worry about political messaging, but I have always been convinced that the best message to send to our constituents is to show them that we are capable of completing the work they elected us to do. I am disappointed House leadership prevented us from completing our work on the 2012 Farm Bill.”

On July 12, the 2012 Farm Bill passed out of the House Agriculture Committee by a bipartisan vote of 35 to 11. On July 19, Donnelly joined a bipartisan letter to House leadership requesting that they bring the 2012 Farm Bill to the House floor before the August District Work Period. He also gave a speech on the House floor urging his colleagues to pass a new Farm Bill. Last week, Donnelly attended the Farm Bill Now rally on the National Mall with Hoosier farmers to show his support for bringing the Farm Bill to the House floor for a vote. On Sept. 14, Donnelly signed a discharge petition to force House leadership to bring the Farm Bill to the floor for a vote.

ASA Disappointed House Failed to Act on Farm Bill

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 21) - As the House of Representatives departs Washington this week for the election recess, the American Soybean Association (ASA) is disappointed that the House failed to take up a comprehensive, five-year farm bill. ASA President Steve Wellman, a soybean farmer from Syracuse, Neb., voiced the association’s frustrations in the following statement:

“The American Soybean Association cannot overstate our disappointment in the House of Representatives for ignoring the voices of American farmers. In no uncertain terms, Congress has let farmers down by not taking action on a new five-year farm bill.

“It is a sad statement on the perceived lack of importance of rural America in Washington when a bipartisan bill that provides certainty for farmers, livestock disaster assistance, nutrition programs, crop insurance improvements, conservation of our natural resources and reduces our Nation’s budget deficits is shelved in favor of scoring political points in an election year.

“Members of Congress will now return to their districts to court votes from the same farmers whose calls for Congressional action to enact a new farm bill were ignored. These hard-working, devoted men and women are a constituency as valuable as any other, and we encourage all soybean farmers to voice their concerns with their representatives in the coming weeks.

“When members of Congress return after the election in November, the excuses and the foot-dragging must stop, and the House must dedicate itself to passing a new comprehensive five-year farm bill that provides farmers with the stability, security and certainty they need while doing agriculture’s part to contribute to deficit reduction. Anything less will be another failure by Washington on the part of American farmers.”

ASA represents all U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international issues of importance to the soybean industry. ASA’s advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary membership in ASA by more than 21,000 farmers in 31 states where soybeans are grown.