Today Congressman Kevin Cramer issued the following statement in response to the House of Representatives' vote on the 2013 farm bill, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013. The bill was defeated by a vote of 234 to 195, with only 24 Democrats voting in favor following a veto threat from President Obama earlier in the week.
"While I am disappointed in some Republicans for their lack of support, I am more disappointed in Democratic leadership and the White House for their blatant decision to cause its failure. House Democrats demonstrated once again their unwillingness to accept necessary reforms to food stamps, even if it means putting every nutrition and agriculture program in jeopardy," said Cramer. "At the same time, the committee and amendment action leading up to the vote was the most bipartisan, regular order process I have seen during my time so far in Congress, and I believe it is a hopeful sign of what we can accomplish if President Obama and other House Democrats will come to the negotiating table."
Cramer actively encouraged colleagues in both parties to support the bill, and worked closely with Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Democrat Collin Peterson in floor proceedings. He introduced a successful amendment to ensure a producer would be subject to no higher than a 1-for-1 acreage basis when enhancing, restoring or creating wetlands, which was adopted by the full House close to midnight Wednesday.