Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Senator Chuck Grassley released the following statement after the Senate passed the Agricultural Act of 2014 by a vote of 68-32. Grassley voted against the measure.
"I'm extremely disappointed that my provisions to place a hard cap on farm payments and better define who can receive those payments were stripped down to such a great extent that they likely won't have much effect. Unfortunately, a few members of the House and Senate placed parochial interests above the broader good for the agricultural community.
"Currently 10 percent of the wealthiest farmers receive 70 percent of the benefit from the farm program. This puts small- and medium-sized farms and young and beginning farmers at a disadvantage. These are the very people the farm program is supposed to help. The committee leaders negotiating the final bill struck my simple, common-sense and enforceable provisions from the final bill.
"As a farmer myself, I understand how a five-year farm bill helps with long-term planning, and there are some good things in the bill. But, I can't turn a blind eye to a select few members dismantling a provision that was passed by wide, bipartisan majorities in both the House and the Senate."
