Hastings on the Farm Bill

Statement

Hastings on the Farm Bill

Last week there was broad bipartisan agreement on a Farm Bill - just like in past years. Every Republican on the Agriculture Committee, and Republicans from agriculture areas like me supported the bill - and I still support the actual farm provisions in the bill.

Last summer I brought the Agriculture Committee to Central Washington to learn first-hand about the unique interests of those who grow and produce specialty crops like apples, pears, cherries, grapes, mint and potatoes. I've pressed for Central Washington agriculture priorities like research, trade promotion and specialty crop block grants. And, I'm pleased that Democrats and Republicans working together developed a Farm Bill that recognizes the needs of specialty crop growers.

The Farm Bill increases the federal investment in agriculture research so that our fruit and vegetable growers have access to the tools and technology they need to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Increased trade promotion funding builds upon my efforts to double the Market Access Program in the last Farm Bill. And, expansion of the specialty crops block grant program, conservation programs, the fruit and vegetable snack program, and a much-needed National Clean Plant Network are all important improvements.

Unfortunately, the night before the Farm Bill was brought to the House floor, Democrats broke the deal by doing the one thing that they knew would make bipartisan, veto-proof support of the bill impossible. They added multi-billion dollar tax increases on employers that invest and create jobs in the United States. This last minute change bypassed the public process of discussion and hearings and overturned the tradition of bipartisan cooperation on federal farm policy.

To make matters worse, the revenue from these tax increases wouldn't even go to help American farmers - instead it would be used to spend billions more on social programs and foreign aid. It was added to gain support of liberal lawmakers from urban areas.

Some will say this is not a tax increase. But, if it's not then how are the billions in new spending being paid for? Some will admit it is a tax increase, but that it doesn't matter because it only impacts foreign corporations. Facts show that U.S. based arms of these companies employ over 5 million American workers - and more than 86,000 Washingtonians. It's hard to see how these tax increases will not cost American jobs. In reality, the Farm Bill was voted on without any disclosure of the full impact of these measures on our economy or an understanding of what they would do.

I was further disappointed that Democrat leadership refused to allow a bipartisan amendment I authored to even be considered on the House floor.

Washington asparagus growers and producers have been devastated by the flood of Peruvian asparagus imports caused by the Andean Trade Preferences Act of 1991. My amendment would have helped our asparagus growers by enabling the Department of Agriculture to provide them with transition payments. American asparagus growers weren't harmed by their own actions, but by their own government. They should not have to pay the price.

We are poised to spend billions under the Farm Bill (including giving at least a billion away to other countries), but House Democrat leaders decided our asparagus growers don't even deserve a place at the table.

The fact is a Farm Bill that meets the needs of Central Washington could have been passed without tax increases. At then end of the day, it's disappointing that the best opportunity for a bipartisan Farm Bill that can actually be enacted into law was lost overnight because Democrats broke a bipartisan deal and insisted on increasing taxes. It's my hope that bipartisan work on a final Farm Bill can get back on track.

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