Congress approves $400 billion for farmers, forests, poor

[brooklynite]

Source: NBC News

WASHINGTON — After months of debate and negotiation, Congress voted final approval Wednesday to a massive farm bill that will provide more than $400 billion for agriculture subsidies, conservation programs and food aid.

The House voted 369-47 for the legislation, which sets federal agricultural and food policy for five years, after the Senate approved it 87-13 on Tuesday. It is now headed to the desk of President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it.

The measure reauthorizes crop insurance and conservation programs and pays for trade programs, bioenergy production and organic farming research. It also reduces the cost for struggling dairy producers to sign up for support programs and legalizes the cultivation of industrial hemp.

...snip...

One thing the bill doesn't include: tighter work requirements for food stamp recipients, a provision of the House bill that was celebrated by President Donald Trump but became a major sticking point during negotiations.



Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/congress-approves-400-billion-farmers-forests-poor-n947466

[neohippie]

1. Ryan hid vote block on Yemen funding for this session

https://www.newsweek.com/five-democrats-vote-republicans-block-vote-saudi-arabia-war-yemen-1256365

Five Democrats joined Republicans on Wednesday to block lawmakers in the House of Representatives from forcing a vote on any resolutions for the rest of 2018 that aimed to use the War Powers Act to end Washington’s support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

The 206-203 vote was largely divided along party lines, but 18 Republicans voted against the measure. Democratic Representatives Jim Costa of California, Al Lawson of Florida, Collin Peterson of North Dakota, Dutch Rupperberger of Maryland, and David Scott of South Carolina voted in favor. The measure was tied to a farm bill, which had a provision tucked inside that said “privilege” did not apply “during the remainder of the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress to a concurrent resolution introduced pursuant to… the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544) with respect to Yemen,” The Hill reported.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/paul-ryan-blocks-house-from-taking-up-yemen-bill

House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday pushed language through the House that will prevent lawmakers from taking up any resolution to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen this year.

The language was passed just as the Senate was set to start debate on a resolution that aims to end U.S. involvement in Yemen, a response to anger over Saudi Arabia's involvement in the death of dissident Jamal Khashoggi.

The provision was tucked into the rule for the 2018 farm bill, which governs how the farm bill will be debated and voted on. Rules are approved by the House Rules Committee, also known as the Speaker's Committee because it's stacked in favor of the majority and usually takes direction from the House speaker.

Rules for legislation normally pass easily on the strength of support from the majority party, but on Wednesday, 18 Republicans balked because of the inclusion of the Yemen language. It passed narrowly in a 206-203 vote, and 17 Republican lawmakers didn't vote at all, both signs that the language nearly put the farm bill at risk of not advancing.

[dlk]

2. How Much of this $400 Billion Will be Given to Corporations?

Not to discount the harm Trump tariffs have done to American farmers, most of these taxpayer dollars will become welfare for already profitable corporations.

[IronLionZion]

3. "legalizes the cultivation of industrial hemp"

It's about time. Hell you can grow recreational weed legally in many states so why not grow the industrial stuff and make useful products out of it?