WASHINGTON, DC— Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today voted to pass H.R. 2419, the reauthorization of the Farm Bill.  The measure passed by a vote of 318 to 106, enough to survive a threatened presidential veto.

“It has been two and a half years since the House Agriculture Committee held its first hearing on the Farm Bill, and almost a year since the House passed its version of the legislation.

“I’m frustrated the process of getting the bill to this point as been such a struggle, at times nearly screeching to a halt due to partisan politics – with five short-term extensions and much wrangling over funding,” Smith said. 

“Many key provisions have been moving targets in a three-way tug-of-war between the White House, the House, and the Senate.

“This conference report addresses nutrition, renewable energy and conservation efforts while also instituting reform-oriented aspects – including reforming farm programs to reduce benefits going to the wealthiest farmers, requiring direct attribution of benefits and including – for the first time ever – a $3.8 billion agricultural disaster relief package,” Smith said. 

Important provisions of the Farm Bill include:

• The 54-cent ethanol tariff would be extended for two years, but the ethanol blenders’ credit would be reduced from 51-cents to 45-cents.

• EQIP program will receive an additional $2.4 billion over the next ten years.

• The Country-of-Origin Labeling agreement would be maintained, with a change in the grandfathering date from January 1, 2008 to July 15, 2008 for foreign livestock already in the U.S.

• The National Veterinary Medical Services Act, a loan repayment program for food animal veterinarians practicing in underserved areas, has been revamped to limit the program to rural areas.