LATTA STATEMENT REGARDING H.R. 2419

Thursday May 15, 2008

Washington, DC -- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) made the following statement after voting for H.R. 2419, The Food Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008- commonly referred to as the farm bill.

“It is a common misconception that this bill is exclusive to farmers and the agriculture industry.  The truth is that only 20 percent of the funding within this legislation is devoted to farm programs (commodities 12%, crop insurance 8%), while nearly 70 percent goes to nutrition title programs.  Since 2002, funding for farm programs has been cut 50 percent, now only comprising one quarter of one percent of the entire federal budget.”

“While the focus of this legislation has shifted away from the agriculture industry, many important components are now in place to allow hard-working farmers in Ohio and across the country to continue their work which drives our nation’s economy.  America’s farmers ensure that we have affordable food and that we are independent of another country’s whims.  This bill also promotes the production of alternative energy and new conservation programs that will benefit farmers as well as our nation’s energy market.” 

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Congressman Robert Latta was elected in a special election in 2007 to serve the Ohio 5th District.  He is a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  Congressman Latta previously served as a member of the Ohio General Assembly and Wood County Commissioner.