House of Representatives Pass Farm Bill 2.0

Today, Farm, Food, and National Security Act (H.R. 7576) was passed by the House of Representatives with a vote of 224-200. This is the first step for the Farm Bill package since its last enactment in 2018. The bill will now be debated and voted on in the Senate. The bill’s enactment would update and extend these farm bill provisions through 2031.

Unfortunately, earlier this week, the E15 amendment was taken out of the Farm Bill and will be voted on independently the week of May 11. The separate E15 legislation is expected to be brought to a vote then later attached to the Farm Bill if passed. The legislation has the text agreed by members of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council.

Other amendments:

• A few amendments around uniformity of pesticide labeling, pesticide authority of states, and lawful use of authorized pesticides that were struck last minute
• An amendment to include language to strengthen domestic supply of fertilizer was added last minute
• Prop 12 was included and passed in the bill, setting a national standard rather than allowing states to determine their own policies

Procedurally, during the week of May 11, the House will vote on the amendments that were removed to be voted on separately from the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill will not advance to the Senate until they have been voted on.

IL Corn will continue to advocate for year-round, nationwide E15, a first step to growing the domestic ethanol demand desperately needed by corn farmers during the downturn of the ag economy. IL Corn thanks the House of Representatives for their work debating and passing the Farm Bill for farmers.