Government Reopening Allows Congress to Focus on Other Pressing Issues such as the Farm Bill 

Washington, D.C. – Last week, Rep. Filemon Vela (D-TX) supported legislation to end the government shutdown and prevent the country from defaulting on our national debt.  Recently, Congressman Vela signed a discharge petition to expedite the process of ending the government shutdown.  The deal signed into law by President Obama funds the government through January 15, while raising the debt ceiling through February 7.

"After sixteen days, the government shutdown ended, which allows Congress to focus on other pressing issues such as the Farm Bill," said Rep. Vela.   "Recently, I was appointed by Democratic leadership to sit on the Farm Bill Conference Committee.  It is an honor to sit on this committee especially considering that I am the only South Texas Member of Congress appointed as a conferee.  Now, South Texas will have a seat at the table as this expansive legislation is negotiated between the House and Senate.  As a conferee, the two issues that I will be most focused on will be reducing deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and securing water resources for South Texas farmers and municipalities.”

The Farm Bill sets agricultural and food policy for the United States and includes funding for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance program which helps low-income individuals and families buy nutritional food.  Earlier this summer, a Farm Bill passed in the U.S. Senate.  A different version of the bill was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives; the House-passed measure includes a $39 billion cut to SNAP benefits.  The conference committee is tasked with resolving differences between the two bills. 

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