Peterson Statement: Senate Approves 2012 Farm Bill

The Farm Bill with 73 amendments was approved with a 64-35 vote. Missing from the final list was amendment #2252 proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) which would codify an agreement made by the HSUS and the United Egg Producers. This amendment would have set the precedent to take husbandry standards out of the hands of experts and give control to the federal government.

For Immediate Release: June 21, 2012

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., today made the following statement after the U.S. Senate approved the 2012 Farm Bill, “The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012.”“Today is an important step to having a farm bill in place before the current bill expires this fall. I give high marks to Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts who did an excellent job securing bipartisan support and bringing the bill one step closer to completion. I’m not on board with everything they’ve done but think that we’ll be able to work out our differences in conference committee.“It is crucial that we finish the farm bill before the current bill expires in September. Waiting until the mess that will occur during the lame duck session will not only make it more difficult, but could also result in several unintended consequences. If the House Ag Committee passes a bipartisan bill in early July, House leadership will then have little choice but to bring the farm bill to the floor before the August recess. I’m continuing to work with Chairman Lucas and members of the Committee to make this happen.”