Is that the senate-passed version without ICE/CBP

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), a longtime organic farmer and member of the House Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after the House passed Republicans' Farm Bill:

At a time when farmers are struggling in the face of rising costs and the President's reckless tariffs, food insecurity is on the rise, and families are paying more for food than they ever have before, this Farm Bill fails to meet the moment. From failing to address desperately needed food assistance and cutting conservation funding, to providing massive subsidies to big agribusinesses and not including any resources for farmers in Maine and across the country impacted by PFAS contamination, the Republicans' Farm Bill champions corporate interests over the well-being of small and mid-sized farmers, consumers, and rural communities. Once again, they've failed the American people.

While I'm relieved that we were able to remove language that would have shielded giant chemical companies like Bayer from liability for harms caused by toxic pesticides, this bill does little to address the very real pain that millions of people across the country are feeling right now. Republicans talk a big game about being the champions of rural America. About helping hardworking families. About how they're trying to 'Make America Healthy Again.' But when it comes time to walk that walk, they go where their corporate donors tell them to go-every time. This Farm Bill is no different.

We have the resources, technologies, and people power to create the most productive and sustainable agriculture sector anywhere in the world. Instead of tapping into that boundless potential, this bill merely keeps the status quo: unconditional support for Big Ag; swill for everyone else-including the hundreds of thousands of farmers who feed this country every day. For these and many other reasons, I could not support this Farm Bill. I remain hopeful that the Senate will put forth a more workable version of this traditionally bipartisan, must-pass legislation that meets the moment for our farmers, families, and rural America.

The Farm Bill:

Protects Republicans' SNAP Cuts: Republicans cut $187 billion from SNAP in reconciliation resulting in benefits being taken away or reduced for more than 40 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 1.2 million veterans and 4 million people with disabilities. Those cuts are protected by this farm bill. In addition, Republicans are openly talking about coming back for more SNAP cuts in new rounds of reconciliation bills.

Ignores States' Ability to Set Their Own Food Production Standards: The bill would overturn state laws that dictate how animal products sold in their state must be raised. Many of these standards were approved by voters at the ballot box and upheld by the conservative Supreme Court in a 2023 ruling. These production standards have created premium markets for hog farmers across the country. To codify this language would be to overrule the voters and eliminate valuable markets for farmers.

Cuts Conservation Funding: At a time when farmers are struggling to make ends meet, the bill cuts $1 billion from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a nationwide program that farmers rely on to help cover the costs of farming practices that protect water quality, soil health, and natural habitats. EQIP is one of the most oversubscribed conservation programs USDA offers, but the bill treats the program as a piggy bank for Republican priorities. At a time when farmers desperately need relief from rising costs, Republicans took money out of their pockets.

Includes No Money for Specialty Crops: After being largely left out of the Trump administration's Farmer Bridge Assistance program, specialty crop growers who are asking for an additional $5 billion in economic relief received no additional direct support in this bill. They also received no mandatory money for specialty crop research or to assist with labor challenges, and no new investments were made in Specialty Crop Block Grants or GusNIP. The bill fails to adequately champion and support our specialty crop growers during this challenging time.

Has No Additional Farm Assistance: Despite farmers facing nearly $54 billion in losses and calls from leading farm groups for additional direct financial support, this farm bill fails to provide any aid to the family farmers who need it most. Farm country is being crushed under the weight of the war in Iran, ill-conceived tariffs and backward economic priorities driving input costs up and commodity prices down. The Republicans' farm bill doesn't address these systemic issues, failing farm country.

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