WASHINGTON, D.C.  -  Congressman Mike Rogers said the House of Representatives passed the 2008 Farm Bill today, legislation Rogers said was not perfect but a good compromise on behalf of East Alabama’s farmers. 

This Farm Bill, H.R. 2419, passed the House today by veto proof margin of 318 to 106. Rogers supported the bill and said it still must be passed by the Senate.

“Hard working East Alabama farmers have waited long enough for Congress to pass this Farm Bill, which contains a number of important reforms for our agriculture economy. I am disappointed it faces a veto threat, and while I agree it’s not a perfect bill, it is a solid compromise that I hope will ultimately be signed into law,” Rogers said.

Rogers said while the bill does not contain all the provisions he’d like to see, the bill contains significant reforms.  Included is new funding for programs to help reduce soil erosion, as well as a program to help East Alabama farmers devastated by the recent drought to build small ponds for irrigation.

He said in a time of rising food and gas prices, the Farm Bill contains significant funding for programs, like food stamps and the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, to help some of Alabama’s most needy families.

In addition, with East Alabamians continuing to feel pain at the pump, Rogers said the Farm Bill invests significant Federal funding into research of alternative fuel sources, like switchgrass, that are grown in Alabama. Rogers also said the bill is supported by the struggling textile industry because of the support that it provides for cotton used in domestic mills.

“The investments in agriculture this bill makes should be good for not only our farmers but for all the hard working families across East Alabama,” Rogers added.

Rogers serves on the Agriculture Committee as well as the Armed Services Committee and Homeland Security Committee.
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