The farm bill recently agreed upon by the Farm Bill Conference Committee would help save taxpayer dollars and implement-free market reforms that are good for the economy, Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) said on Monday.
“The farm bill will reduce our deficit by $24 billion over ten years,” Neugebauer, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said. “We’ve closed loopholes in the nutrition programs to save $8 billion. We’re also implementing a pilot program that will help get able-bodied adults off food stamps and back to work.”
The conference committee opted for strengthening crop insurance, which requires farmers to pay a premium and only pays out in the event of a loss, rather than sending out direct payments.
“…I’m also proud that my market-based Shallow Loss Coverage Option was included in the final report,” Neugebauer said. “This group insurance program helps farmers manage smaller losses – bad seasons that wouldn’t necessarily trigger an individual crop insurance policy, but over time could put a farmer out of business.”
Neugebauer expressed disappointment that more loopholes within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program weren’t closed in the five-year farm bill.
“I had (also) hoped we’d get the government out of the business of marketing products by ending the trade-distorting Country of Origin Labeling program,” Neugebauer said. “But we’ll continue to work on these issues in appropriations legislation.”