Donnelly Statement on Inaction of Congress on the Farm Bill

Statement

Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly released the following statement on the failure of the House of Representatives to bring the Farm Bill to the floor before the current Farm Bill expires on September 30, 2012. The House is now adjourning until after the November elections.

"I am disappointed that partisan gridlock prevented us from voting on a Farm Bill before it expires," said Donnelly. "Hoosier farmers deserved a vote on the Farm Bill this week. Our farmers face an incredible amount of uncertainty, whether it's from Mother Nature or market prices. It is disappointing that Congress' inaction will now be a cause for concern as well.

"This time of year, there are a number of folks in this town that worry about political messaging, but I have always been convinced that the best message to send to our constituents is to show them that we are capable of completing the work they elected us to do. I am disappointed House leadership prevented us from completing our work on the 2012 Farm Bill."

On July 12, the 2012 Farm Bill passed out of the House Agriculture Committee by a bipartisan vote of 35 to 11. On July 19, Donnelly joined a bipartisan letter to House leadership requesting that they bring the 2012 Farm Bill to the House floor before the August District Work Period. He also gave a speech on the House floor urging his colleagues to pass a new Farm Bill. Last week, Donnelly attended the Farm Bill Now rally on the National Mall with Hoosier farmers to show his support for bringing the Farm Bill to the House floor for a vote. On September 14, Donnelly signed a discharge petition to force House leadership to bring the Farm Bill to the floor for a vote.

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