Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House voted on the separate nutrition section of the farm bill. Breaking with decades of precedence, House Republicans separated the agriculture and nutrition portions of the farm bill, which threatens its chance at being signed into law. The nutrition-only section put before the House today contained $40 billion in cuts to nutrition assistance programs. The splitting of the two sections was opposed by hundreds of agriculture groups, including the Iowa Farm Bureau.
"As someone raised by a single mother who relied in part on food stamps to put food on the table, I know first-hand that the cuts included in this legislation would have a draconian impact on many families who are still trying to recover. We cannot pull the rug out from under working families, children, seniors and veterans.
"Now that the latest political theater directed by the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party is over, it is long past time for Speaker Boehner to get serious about getting a farm bill done and go to conference with the Senate. I strongly opposed splitting the agriculture and nutrition sections of the farm bill because it threatens the chances of getting a farm bill signed into law. Our farmers, rural communities and economy are depending on a commonsense, practical farm bill. The farm bill helps keep our economy strong and creates jobs far beyond the farm. We must pass the farm bill without further delay."
Loebsack has consistently fought to move a farm bill forward that can be signed into law. In July, he joined the Iowa delegation, and was one of only 24 Democrats to support the complete House version of the farm bill, which was voted down. He also introduced in the House the bipartisan Senate farm bill which was supported by both Senators Harkin and Grassley.
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