Rep. Rick Berg says is asking House
leaders to bring the 2012 Farm Bill up for a vote by the full
chamber as quickly as possible.
The North Dakota Republican says getting a farm bill out of the
House Agriculture Committee is a big step forward for farmers and
ranchers, but the act must be reauthorized quickly.
The committee in a 35-11 vote Thursday passed the bill, giving
farmers new ways to protect themselves from bad weather and poor
prices while slicing about 2 percent off the $80 billion the
government spends every year on food stamps.
The House legislation would save $3.5 billion a year from
current spending levels.
The committee vote comes three weeks after the full Senate
passed its version.