Minority News

In an op-ed in the Huffington Post, Senator Stabenow said of the bipartisan 2014 Farm Bill today: “The bill marks a major step in changing the paradigm in American agriculture policy…” “The new Farm Bill ends indefensible government subsidies like direct payments, which pay farmers every year whether they need it or...

The U.S. Senate cleared a procedural hurdle today and voted to proceed to consideration of the 2014 Farm Bill, paving the way for a final vote on the measure tomorrow. Cloture was invoked with strong bipartisan support of 72-22. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and...

For more information on the Farm Bill’s savings in food assistance, click here. Bob Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: “Congress did not intend for states to stretch the benefit rules this way and longstanding [food stamp] supporters like myself find it difficult to defend… It’s difficult to defend the...

In 2011, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees set a goal of cutting $23 billion from agriculture programs. This Farm Bill ensures that, including sequester, the bill yields a total of $23 billion in cuts to program spending, meeting the committees’ deficit reduction goal. Farm Bill Savings The Farm Bill achieves major reform by ending...

American Farm Bureau Federation National Farmers Union Union of Concerned Scientists Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Ducks Unlimited National Rifle Association National Wildlife Federation Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Humane Society of the United States AARP The Nature Conservancy World Wildlife Fund Pheasants Forever Audubon...

Agriculture represents a bright spot in the U.S. economy and is underpinning the nation’s economic recovery. Passing a five-year Farm Bill creates the certainty needed for farmers, ranchers and businessesthroughout a sector critical toour entire economy. American agriculture supports 16 million American jobs. Agriculture is one of the only...

“This farm bill would be one of the strongest ever for conservation and forestry”"Farm bill conservation programs ... encourage practices that lead to healthier lands and waters, and they are critical to a strong economy, healthy and productive rural lands, and vibrant communities"“The new farm bill has several important provisions to advance...

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today released the following statement regarding the House’s vote to pass The Agricultural Act of 2014.  “We are on the verge of achieving major reform. Today’s House vote puts us one step closer to finally enacting...

  The 2014 Farm Bill recognizes the diversity of American agriculture and the importance of providing access to healthy foods by strengthening programs that focus on fruits, vegetables and organic crops. Sales of specialty crops total nearly $65 billion per year, and organics are the fastest-growing segment of agriculture, making them a...

The Agricultural Act of 2014 achieves savings in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) solely by stopping fraud and misuse, while maintaining critical assistance for families. Savings in this section are achieved without removing anyone from the SNAP program, and ensures that every person receives the benefits they are intended to...

After nearly three years of working to create a 5-year Farm Bill that will reform agriculture policy, end unnecessary subsidies, save billions of taxpayer dollars, and help create American agriculture jobs, Members of Congress in the Senate and House have an agreement on a final bipartisan Farm Bill. Members of both parties have been trying to end...

House and Senate agriculture leaders today announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on a five-year farm bill that will reduce the deficit, grow the economy and provide certainty to the 16 million Americans whose jobs depend on agriculture. The Agricultural Act of 2014 contains major reforms including eliminating the direct payment program,...

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to lower congressionally mandated biofuels targets for 2014. The proposal would set the volumes at under 10 percent of projected...

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today applauded U.S. Department of Agriculture efforts that will help U.S. beef producers increase exports. USDA today announced the final comprehensive BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) rule that will help ensure other countries...

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today delivered the following opening remarks at the first public meeting of the House-Senate Farm Bill conference committee. The meeting officially marks the beginning of the conference committee negotiations between the House and Senate to...

Washington, DC- Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today released the following statement regarding the Senate moving to go to conference with the House on the 2013 Farm Bill. Majority Leader Harry Reid asked for unanimous consent this afternoon to request a conference...

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today released the following statement regarding a new report by the Joint Economic Committee detailing the key role that agricultural exports are playing in the U.S. economy. The report, The Economic Contribution of America's Farmers and the...

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today called on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to review recent allegations about possible manipulation of the markets for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) – the tracking mechanism to ensure petroleum blenders and refiners...

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, released the following statement after today’s House vote on Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s bill that would kick nearly 4 million Americans off of food assistance. The effort, which has stalled House action on moving...

Key Points: Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor is forcing a vote in the House on a bill that would cut food assistance by a whopping $40 billion, and kick nearly 4 million people off the program in the next year, including children, seniors, veterans and disabled Americans. 210,000 children would lose school lunches. Cantor bill would offer...