Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, shared with her constituents five reasons she thinks the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the farm bill, will be good for not only her home state, but for the country as a whole.
The bill was released to the agriculture committee on June 8, and the committee advanced the bill to the full Senate for consideration on June 13.
According to Stabenow, there are five basic strengths of the bill
1. Farm bill is a jobs bill
The bipartisan 2018 Senate farm bill, Stabenow said, fuels economic opportunity and job growth both on and off the farm in small towns and cities alike. It creates certainty – not just for farmers and farm workers, but also for equipment manufacturers, food processing businesses, retailers, and many other employers.
2. The farm bill supports farmers
From bad weather to volatile markets, farming is one of the riskiest businesses out there – which is why Stabenow believes farmers need a strong safety net. The 2018 Senate farm bill equips farmers with risk management tools that help them stay afloat during unexpected disasters, while also allowing them to tap into new markets to boost their bottom line.
3. The farm bill protects the Great Lakes and supports outdoor recreation
Through targeted conservation efforts, the farm bill protects the Great Lakes and rivers, while preserving wildlife habitat to support hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation.
4. The farm bill strengthens small towns and rural communities
Small towns and rural communities need real resources to thrive in the 21st Century. The farm bill has made critical investments to spur economic development and improve the quality of life for families.
5. The farm bill strengthens integrity and food access for families
While the 2014 farm bill has resulted in savings of $80 billion dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the bill makes key improvements to further strengthen the integrity of the program, Stabenow said, while still preserving critical food access for families.
