Washington, DC — The US Senate approved the Farm Bill on Tuesday, with the US House approving it on Wednesday. This area’s Congressman, Steve King voted in favor of the legislation, which he says contains several important agriculture and biofuel initiatives.
The Farm Bill passed the House on a vote of 369-47. The legislation will now be sent to President Trump for his signature.
King says the Farm Bill provides predictability, while also enhancing our ability to trade in foreign markets. He made these comments on the House floor:
King is talking about ‘Genome to Phenome’ language that was a priority for Iowa State University. He says this will allow Iowa State to further its research into the impact on crops of weather, environmental, and production systems.
King says this Farm Bill is “a victory for our producers, it meets Rural America’s immediate need for greater trade, and it’s shameful that partisan politics prevented it from passing sooner.”
The Energy Title was preserved as a separate title in the Farm Bill, a designation King insisted upon in order to protect mandatory funding for important biofuel programs. The bill also includes increased funding for “Beginning Farmer” loans by $6 billion, while also increasing loan amounts available under the program. It will also increase the rural minimum standard for broadband internet service which he says means that rural areas, like Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, will now be provided with greater connectivity speeds.
In the Senate, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst voted for the bill, with Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley voting against it, saying it helps those who run big farms too much and doesn’t help those who run small and medium-sized farms enough.
