Farm Bill Moves to Conference Committee

The U.S. House of Representatives last week rejected the Senate’s version of the farm bill and voted instead to send the bill to conference, where representatives from both chambers will resolve differences.

The House also appointed 47 members to serve on the conference committee. Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer are expected to appoint Senate members to the committee this week.

The biggest differences in the bills have to do with work requirements tied to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamp program. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R, Iowa), who supports work requirements, said Democrats do not.

“We'll never get 60 votes in the United States Senate for that,” Grassley said. “So, a key factor is whether or not the House will give into the Senate version of the food stamp portion of the farm bill. It’s going to be dependent on whether we get a bill to the president at all.”

The current farm bill expires Sept. 30. It is possible but improbable that a farm bill will get to the president’s desk by then.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R, Texas) does not expect that initial meeting of the conference committee to happen before the August recess.