Members of the US House and Senate Agriculture Committees have reached an agreement in principle for a five-year Farm Bill.
The agreement comes two months after the most recent Farm Bill package expired. In an interview with KVOE’s television partner WIBW in Topeka, Kansas Congressman Roger Marshall praised the final result, even though there were compromises attached.
The bill ends a push by House Republicans and President Trump to add new work requirements for people receiving SNAP, or food stamp, assistance. Many House Republicans demanded those new requirements, but Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts of Kansas said the Senate would not pass the bill if the work requirements were left alone.
The Farm Bill is authorized every five years and covers farm subsidies, conservation programs and payments, rural development and food stamps. The most recent plan expired Sept. 30. Marshall says it has been a hard road to get to this point.
The White House still has to sign off on the compromise. President Trump could receive the bill as early as next week.
