House Panel Passes 2007 Farm Bill

After a three-day markup, the House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 2419, the 2007 Farm Bill, by a voice vote. Some major changes in the bill include country of origin labels on all meat products, and a provision that bans farmers with more than $1 million in annual adjusted gross income from collecting government subsidies. This and other changes to subsidy programs will save $226 billion over five years, Peterson said, helping the bill meet House budget rules.

For schools, a mild expansion of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) can be considered both good and bad news. After the Subcommittee on Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry held its markup, the FFVP expansion carried into 50 schools in every state, contingent on $100 million in offsets. The initial Chairman’s mark included this expansion, but it did not make it through the full committee markup. The manager’s amendment, offered on Tuesday, scales back the expansion and authorizes funds through 2012, rather than relying on contingent funding. The new proposal would authorize $70 million for expanding the program into 35 schools in each state. Any additional available funds would be distributed to states based on population.

The bill may go to the House floor next week, depending on where the various appropriation bills stand. Many members wish to offer various amendments, though it is unclear if the House Rules Committee will send the bill to the House floor under an open rule (which allows unlimited amendments) or whether it will only rule on a few amendments in order for debate. While some of the crop and commodities provisions may be subject to debate, there does not seem to be any real dissent to the FFVP expansion, so any change would likely increase the expansion. After passing the House, action may stall since the Senate committee has not even started considering the bill. Although the House Committee approval marks a significant step to final passage, there is still a long way to go before the 2007 Farm Bill reaches the President’s desk.

Resources:
Catharine Richert, “Farm Policy Critics Vow House Floor Challenge as Panel Approves Bill,” CQ Today, July 19, 2007.
Charlene Carter, “House Ag Finally Approves Farm Bill, Including Country-of-Origin Labeling Requirements for Meat,” Congress Now, July 20, 2007.
Author: SAS