The new farm bill is unlikely to be approved this year, according to Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst.
In a report from radio station KIWA in Iowa, Ernst, who sits on the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee, said negotiations have “taken a turn” in the wrong direction.
“I don’t think we’re close, and unfortunately it’s just taken a turn over the last week or so,” Ernst told KIWA. “I’m going to remain optimistic, but it’s starting to wane. Right now, we could be looking at a one-year extension.”
The current farm bill expires September 30.
The point of contention in the farm bill is over work requirements for Americans who receive government nutrition assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. The version of the bill that passed the U.S. Senate in June did not include changes to SNAP that were included in the House bill.
The House and Senate need to reconcile their two bills before a final bill can be sent to the president to be signed into law.
The Senate version passed by a bipartisan 86-11 vote, while no Democrats voted for the House version.
