September 29, 2023

New Dem Farm Bill Task Force Chair on House Republican Failure to Pass Partisan Agriculture Appropriations Bill

Today, New Democrat Coalition Farm Bill Task Force Chair Kim Schrier (WA-08) released the following statement after House Republicans failed to advance the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration appropriations bill last night:

“Last night, 27 House Republicans joined Democrats in opposition to the hyper-partisan agriculture funding bill. The bill contains a draconian provision that would politicize and tie the hands of the FDA with the goal of restricting access to abortion medications, limit support to family farms, and drastically underfund the nutrition assistance programs that are critical to so many hardworking families. That’s not what our nation’s agriculture industry needs.

“The lesson is clear: Speaker McCarthy cannot secure the votes necessary to pass legislation that is specifically tailored to appeal to the far-right extremists in his party. As we swiftly approach the deadline to fund the government, the Speaker must recognize that the only way to prevent a shutdown is to pass bipartisan legislation. And as we prepare to pass a Farm Bill, we must ensure it is bipartisan and does not replicate past Republican failures caused by injecting partisanship into the debate. 

“New Dems are at the table working to secure a bipartisan deal to avoid the shutdown and pass full-year government funding legislation and a Farm Bill that supports women, working families, and our agriculture industry. We urge the Speaker to join responsible lawmakers in this effort.”

 



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