Boswell Statement on Need to Bring Farm Bill to a Vote

Statement

Congressman Leonard Boswell (IA-3) today issued a statement reiterating his support and calling for increased urgency for a five-year farm bill. Boswell was among the first members to sign a discharge petition seeking to force a vote on a new farm bill.

"As I have been saying long we before we started this process, Iowans and our entire country are depending on Congress to do its job and pass a long-term farm bill. The Senate passed their version back in June and the House Agriculture Committee had a bill ready for debate in mid-July -- both advanced with bipartisan votes. Every major agricultural group is demanding a five-year bill be immediately passed, including the American Farm Bureau, the National Corn Growers and the American Soybean Association.

"It is incredibly sad that some are frightened by Tea Party pressure groups like Club for Growth and want to wait until after an election instead of doing the right thing for our country and the people who help feed and fuel us. There is absolutely no excuse for House Republican Leadership to continue this stonewalling in order to appease the extreme wing of their party while our farmers and ranchers continue dealing with the disastrous, long-term effects of this season's drought. Our producers need certainty in facing these uncertain times and kicking the can down the road or pushing it off to the lame duck session is failing farmers, processors, vendors and consumers alike. We need a long-term farm bill and we need it NOW."

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