Newhouse Reacts To Farm Bill Draft

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway released his draft of the 2018 Farm Bill on Thursday, known as the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018.  While he hasn’t had a chance to go over every details on the proposal, Representative Dan Newhouse said he is encouraged by what he’s seen.  He also notes many of the requests of Central Washington farmers are included.

“Trade, and the export promotion programs, the specialty crop research initiative is there, specialty crop block grants, some of the research programs which are a big priority for producers in Central Washington.”

Conaway says his draft of the bill “keeps faith with our nation’s farmers and ranchers,” and also “keeps faith” with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  Democrats on the Agriculture Committee appear unpleased by the draft.

Ranking Member Collin Peterson says of the bill: “It makes no sense” to put agriculture and the farm safety net “at risk in pursuit of partisan ideology on SNAP.”

Click Here for text of the bill.

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