NFU Continues to Push Congress for New Farm Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 5, 2013 Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191 maugusto@nfudc.org Dan McEvily, 202-314-3104 dmcevily@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (Feb. 5, 2013) – In an effort to ensure that passage of a farm bill does not get pushed back once again as a result of the continued  focus on budget, sequestration and debt crisis on Capitol Hill, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson and NFU staff have begun meeting with members of the 113th Congress on the Senate and House of Representatives Agriculture Committees to focus on the vital importance of the completion of a comprehensive, five-year farm bill as soon as possible. A partial extension of the 2008 Farm Bill, which was passed as part of H.R. 8, the Tax Relief Extension Act in January, is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2013. “At this early juncture of the 113th Congress, we want to get a head start on highlighting the need and urgency for a farm bill. It would be truly shameful to be placed in a situation similar to last year, when work on a farm bill was stopped dead in its tracks,” said Johnson. “We will continue to press Congress long and hard until a bill is finally passed.” Johnson and staff have begun meeting with new members of the Senate and House Agricultural Committees, including Sen. Thad Cochran, R – Miss., who was recently announced as the new ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee. “Our meeting with Senator Cochran was helpful and we applaud his dedication to the Senate Agriculture Committee and to the passage of a farm bill that will work for all areas of the country,” said Johnson. “We look forward to continuing to meet with other members of both Committees until the farm bill is on the president’s desk.” On Feb. 12, the NFU executive board will meet in Washington, D.C., to meet with various members of Congress to underline the importance of working on the passage of a five-year farm bill.