The House Committee on Agriculture advanced the GOP-led farm bill markup out of the committee with a 33-21 vote before Memorial Day. Four committee Democrats joined the Republicans to advance the bill. Let’s break that down.
In order for any farm bill to become law, a compromise that attracts votes from both sides of the aisle is essential. Despite the glimmer of bipartisanship that advanced the bill out of committee, partisan division over the contours of the bill specifically, and partisan gridlock more generally, remain obstacles. The main points of contention include the funding and structure of farm safety net programs, funding for nutrition programs and the potential removal of climate guardrails from the supplemental conservation funding established in the Inflation Reduction Act.
While there is hope for a bill to be finalized after the elections in a lame duck session, it is becoming increasingly likely that we are looking at a 2025 Farm Bill instead.
The proposals of both Glenn Thompson, House Committee on Agriculture chairman, and Debbie Stabenow, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry chairwoman, include provisions that would help producers use and manage water more wisely and enhance the sustainability of their operations. And negotiations that yield a bipartisan compromise bill that could pass both chambers can hold real promise. But that said, the clock is ticking, and while there is hope for a bill to be finalized after the elections in a lame duck session, it is becoming increasingly likely that we are looking at a 2025 Farm Bill instead.
With a narrow majority of 217-213 and challenges from their right flank, Republican leadership has struggled this year to move major legislation across the House floor. In 2018, 44 Republicans voted no on the final passage of the conference agreement. With a bloc of House Republicans unlikely to support a farm bill this year, how many Democrats will be needed to ensure passage?
Additionally, there is widespread Democratic opposition to reducing nutrition spending as outlined by Thompson. Only 4 of 25 Democrats on the committee voted to advance the bill through committee. Will a sufficient number of Democrats support the bill on the floor?
Timing is another critical factor. Thompson has indicated he hopes to move the bill through the House in September. However, with only 13 days in session that month, and the need to also pass government spending bills by the end of September, will there be enough time to advance the farm bill?
In order for a final farm bill to become law, a bill passing out of the House Agriculture Committee is just one step. House Speaker Mike Johnson will need to bring the bill to the House floor for debate, amendments and a vote. Meanwhile, legislation will also need to be marked up by the Senate Agriculture Committee before a full Senate vote. As the House- and Senate-passed bills will inevitably be different, a conference committee will have to negotiate differences and merge the legislation into a single bill for final approval by both chambers.
After both the House and Senate pass the identical bill, it goes to the president, who can sign it into law or veto it. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.
While its advancement out of committee is a significant step, it now faces the arduous path through both the House and Senate, conference committees, and finally, the president’s desk. The bipartisan support seen so far is encouraging, but the real test will come as lawmakers from both parties navigate the intricate legislative process, balancing a diverse array of interests and priorities. The outcome will be crucial for the agricultural sector, impacting everything from farm safety nets to precision agriculture funding. All eyes will be on Congress as the process unfolds, with the hope that the resulting legislation will provide much-needed stability and support for America’s farmers and the broader agricultural industry.
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