WASHINGTON, D.C. – After many months of hard, bipartisan work, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas – Second District) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives today voted (308-116) for a Farm Bill which will strengthen American agriculture.

Congresswoman Boyda issued the following statement:

“Since I arrived in Congress, there has been a beehive of activity around the Farm Bill. Every producer group has been in my office several times. I also had many farmers and ranchers come to the offices in D.C. and in Topeka to talk about the Farm Bill and issues affecting farmers and ranchers in the Second District of Kansas. I have toured the Second District and met with farmers and ranchers to discuss the final version of the Farm Bill.

“No bill is perfect, and this bill is no exception. However, it makes real investments in rural America by increasing support for conservation, nutrition and renewable energy while creating a disaster aid program for America’s farmers and ranchers.

“Especially important to Kansas is the tax relief provision to support the rebuilding of Greensburg. The people of Greensburg have worked so hard for the past year to rebuild their town. It’s long past time for Congress to lend a helping hand.

“The bill was supported by all the major agricultural groups, including, the National Farmers’ Union, American Farm Bureau Federation, Kansas Cattlemen Association, Kansas Livestock Association and other producer groups.”

                                      FARM BILL FACT SHEET:

1.   Important tax relief for Greensburg, KS and surrounding areas designated in the Kansas Disaster Area. This will contribute greatly to rebuilding and recovery efforts for Greensburg homeowners and businesses.

2.   Prohibits closure or relocation of county or field offices for the Farm Service Agency for two years. 

3.  Maintains the important safety net for farmers while incorporating important changes and reforms to farm programs. This includes the new revenue-based counter-cyclical program (ACRE program), stronger adjusted gross income (AGI) payment limits for farmers and non-farmers. 

4.   Provides $7.9 billion more for conservation programs including increases for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Security Program (CSP). The bill also expands the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), and maintains the popular Conservation Reserve Program. 

5.   Increases funding by $10.361 billion for nutrition programs. This includes increased benefits for the Food Stamp Program, increases in school nutrition programs like the USDA Healthy Snack Program, and increases in nutrition education programs. The bill will also provide more fresh fruits and vegetables to food stamp households, increase access and purchases of locally grown food, and will fund projects to combat our nation’s growing obesity problem. 

6.   Establishes new programs to assist beginning farmers and ranchers and increases the amount of loans available for beginning farmers and ranchers. 

7.   Provides final implementation for Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for meat and produce. 

8.   Increases markets for small, state inspected meat and poultry plants by allowing state inspected meat and poultry to be sold out of state. 

9.   Provides $1 billion to fund energy programs including renewable energy investments, new energy technologies and new feedstocks to be used for energy production. 

10.   Helps rural America by increasing access to broadband communications services, increasing emergency medical services coverage in rural areas, expands the 9-1-1 access for rural areas, and promotes small business development in rural America. 

11. Creates a $3.8 billion Permanent Disaster Assistance Program to guarantee that assistance will be available for farmers and ranchers, and not depend on Congressional action. 

12. The Farm Bill spending increases are completely paid for and will not increase our budget deficit. The increase will be completely and fully offset with outlay reductions from Customs User Fees.