The Farm Bill remains bogged down in the House of Representatives, despite the House Agriculture Committee’s approval in July. Differences of opinions among members of the GOP caucus have slowed progress, and even House Speaker John Boehner has expressed strong reservations about dairy support provisions contained in the measure. Lawmakers from drought-stricken areas of the country are expressing frustration with the slow pace, saying agriculture producers need the assistance the bill would provide. 

 

Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) is leading a bipartisan coalition of Rick Berg (R-ND), Chris Gibson (R-NY) and Peter Welch (D-VT) to gather member signatures on a discharge petition that could force a House vote on the 2012 Farm Bill in September.

 

“Producers battered by this summer’s drought are counting on the Farm Bill to help them through this tough time,” Braley says. “It’s time to get this important bill moving forward.”

 

In a letter sent to House colleagues, the bipartisan group urged a commitment to signing the discharge petition as quickly as possible. The earliest the bill could be taken up is sometime in September, after Congress returns from its recess.