Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, released the following statement on the failure of the partisan Farm Bill:

“Today’s rejection of the Republican Farm Bill underscores the need to go back to the drawing table and advance a better, bipartisan Farm Bill. The Farm Bill has always been a piece of legislation that brings together Republicans and Democrats, and I have said from the beginning that it is imperative we work together, find common ground and do right by family farmers in the Granite State and across the country.

“Farmers need long-term certitude over federal agriculture and nutrition policy. I am disappointed that Republicans pushed Democrats away from the negotiating table by advancing an extreme, ideological agenda that would lead to nearly 17,000 Granite State families losing nutrition assistance. Furthermore, this Farm Bill was a massive giveaway to large agribusiness and did not adequately support smaller farmers.  This bill also slashed mandatory spending for critical conservation programs, and failed to provide any additional, dedicated funding to address the opioid crisis in rural America. I supported the 2014 Farm Bill, and stand ready to work with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to write a bill that reflects consensus, not cruelty. This bill represents a missed opportunity to address near record low commodity prices across the country and support our hard-working American farmers.”

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