WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sharply criticized the draft farm bill authored by U.S. House Republicans on a conference call with reporters Wednesday, saying the draft would damage the coalition that has traditionally rallied around farm bills. “There is a real possibility that we will not be able to pass the Farm Bill,” he said.
The sweeping five-year bill, which would oversee agriculture, nutrition, commodity and environmental protection programs, is scheduled to be considered by the House Agriculture Committee, led by Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, Republican of Pennsylvania, starting Thursday morning.
It already appears to be on track to clash with proposals in the Democratic-controlled Senate amid disagreements over anti-hunger measures and conservation programs. Additionally, any must-pass legislation would be introduced in the House with a narrow 217-213 Republican majority.
Vilsack expressed frustration over an eight-month delay in the $1.5 trillion package and said he had “deep concerns” about the bill Thompson unveiled last week. In the House, lawmakers who fought over spending and the speakership last year passed an extension to the 2018 Farm Bill, which expires Sept. 30.
“I appreciate the fact that people are working hard. I appreciate the fact that they listened to rural people,” said Vilsack, a former Iowa governor.
“But I’m concerned that the proposal being pushed by Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee is actually designed in a way that doesn’t create a path to passage. Unfortunately, I think this proposal is paving the way for gridlock and will cause further delays.”
Nutrition, disaster program cuts
Vilsack said he opposed provisions that would cut spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides food assistance to more than 40 million low-income families.
The liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that the bill could cut as much as $30 billion over 10 years by limiting future renewals of the food savings plan that underpins the benefit levels. Mr. Vilsack put the figure at $27 billion.
“Historically, there’s been a coalition that has been central to getting the farm bill through and understands the importance of addressing nutrition programs and agriculture programs,” Vilsack said. “This is essentially a rift in the coalition that is absolutely necessary to get the farm bill through… The fact that we’re crossing that line really raises the possibility that we won’t be able to get the farm bill through.”
He also took issue with parts of the House bill relating to the Commodity Credit Corporation, which runs a variety of agricultural programs.
The bill would limit the USDA’s ability to use Section 5 of the CCC, tying the agency’s hands in responding to natural disasters that strike farmers and forcing the department to rely on Congress to enact disaster assistance, Vilsack said.
“There is no guarantee that such a bill will pass,” Vilsack said. “And second, Congress often underfunds these bills, as was the case with the most recent 2023 disaster.”
He said Thompson is proposing to “essentially eliminate the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize the CCC in the face of, for example, a market-distorting natural disaster.” He also said he believes the bill overestimates the savings.
Vilsack said he preferred the farm bill proposed by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, calling it “more realistic” and “workable.” Stabenow, who has released an outline but not the text of the bill, includes provisions such as expanding eligibility for nutrition programs such as SNAP.
The chairman defended the proposal.
In a statement after the conference call, Thompson disputed Vilsack’s comments and said his bill would make a “historic investment” in agriculture.
“It is clear from this last-minute push that, if left unchecked, the Secretary of State is determined to use all of the borrowing powers he has been given to bypass Congress,” he said. “The Committee reaffirms Congress’ authority for the Commodity Credit Corporation, which will rein in reckless executive spending and fund important bipartisan priorities in the Farm Bill.”
“The sudden hostility to using the CCC as a reward is just the latest partisan attempt to divide our committee and slow progress on passing the Farm Bill.”
In a press release Wednesday, the committee said it would include the president of the American Federation of Farmers’ Associations, the CEO of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and various commodity and trade organizations. Several people, including leaders of the United States, also cited statements praising Thompson’s proposal.
