Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today in response to the announcement that the House of Representatives would not act on the expiring farm bill before going home to campaign for seven weeks, in the meantime leaving farmers in the lurch.
"Not lifting a finger on the farm bill is another sad story of lost opportunity and failed leadership by a Republican Congress that has repeatedly decided to go on vacation instead of getting any real work done. The announcement that Republican leadership will not even attempt to pass the farm bill before November comes on the heels of a decision to work for all of eight days in two months and follows an undeserved five week vacation. Frankly, it's no wonder this is the least productive and least popular Congress in history.
"Initially proposing a one-year extension instead of acting on a reformed farm bill, the Republican Majority is now failing miserably to even provide a simple extension of the farm bill. As a result, many farm bill programs will expire and our farmers will be left with Great Depression-era policies in the wake of the worst drought in decades. I have worked on a bipartisan basis to move forward assistance for our farmers, and I continue to stand ready to work across the aisle to move the farm bill forward. This decision is inexcusable and I call on Congress to stay in Washington, take up the farm bill, and get assistance to our farmers."
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