The House of Representatives continues to look for ways to bring the Farm Bill back after its defeat last month. In its latest move, the House has removed the funding authorization for the food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, from the agriculture portion of the bill. The bill moving forward includes the Goodlatte-Scott amendment.

During consideration of the House Bill on June 20, the Goodlatte-Scott amendment passed with a 291–135 vote, and was supported by 196 Republicans, with only 35 opposed; and by nearly a majority of Democrats, with 95 in favor and 100 opposed.

The vote sent a strong message that dairy supply management stands in the way of passing a new Farm Bill.

“Given the more than 2 to 1 vote for Goodlatte-Scott, it is not surprising that support came from nearly everywhere, from East to West, from dairy states to non-dairy states, and from conservatives to liberals,” said Jerry Slominski, IDFA senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy in a recent DairyLine broadcast. 

“The Goodlatte-Scott alternative occupies the middle ground in this debate,” he continued. “It authorizes a strong and effective revenue insurance program for dairy farmers, one that includes free catastrophic loss coverage and an option to purchase more, but it does so without imposing a divisive and controversial supply management program on the U.S. dairy industry.”

For more information, contact Slominski at jslominski@idfa.org.