Rules Committee Reviews the House Farm Bill

The House Committee on Rules reviewed H.R. 2, the farm bill, Tuesday. In an opening statement, Ranking Member Jim McGovern said the current farm bill is mean-spirited and if the current bill becomes law, millions of people will lose food assistance. “The process here, with regard to the farm bill, was the worst I’ve ever seen from the agriculture committee. The committee is traditionally one of the most, if not the most, bipartisan committees in the House. If you want to know how the process failed, I’d encourage you to read the draft farm bill. It diminishes the agriculture committee and the entire House.” House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway met with the Rules Committee. Ranking Member Collin Peterson didn’t attend the hearing.