Senator Baucus: Congress Reaches Deal On Farm Bill

By admin - Posted on May 9th, 2008

Montana's Senior Senator At Negotiating Table, Says New Bill Win For Producers

May 8, 2008 -- (Washington, D.C.) – At a press conference on Capitol Hill today, Farm Bill negotiators announced a new Farm Bill deal has been reached. Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus, highlighted that there are many good provisions for Montana in the bill including a permanent disaster assistance fund.

Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which essentially controls the checkbook for the legislation, is a key member of the House and Senate negotiating committee. For months, Baucus has been fighting to protect the important provisions he included in the bill for Montana. Baucus said that now that a deal has been reached, both the House and Senate must vote on the legislation and send it to the President, which should happen in the next week.

“This is great news for Montana’s farmers and ranchers,” said Baucus, who is also a senior member of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee. “We’ve created a permanent disaster assistance fund so producers don’t have to go back to Congress year after year, kept FSA offices open, and paved the way to finally implement country-of-origin labeling. Agriculture is the backbone of our state’s economy and this bill will help keep it that way.”

Baucus inserted a permanent agriculture disaster assistance fund to help producers when drought and fires hit.

Montana Provisions Baucus Inserted In Farm Bill:

• Establishing a Permanent Disaster Assistance Trust Fund

• Simplifying rules so it’s less burdensome for producers, packers and retailers so Country of Origin Labeling can be implemented.

• Keeping Farm Service Agency Offices open in Montana.

• Interstate Shipment of State Inspected Meat – make it easier to get Montana beef on kitchen tables across the country.

• Boosting nutrition programs

“It took a lot of hard work but the end is in sight,” Baucus said. “I’m committed to working together with my colleagues to carry this bill across the finish line.”

Source: Senator Max Baucus

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