Pass the Farm Bill

Floor Speech

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, it's time to get to work. When Congress recessed for the election, we left much undone, including the farm bill, which is critical to the economy of my district and to our country.

Just this weekend, The Fresno Bee got it right when they wrote:

There are some in Congress who suggest delaying the farm bill until after new Members begin serving in January. That's the easy way out, but it does not serve the interests of the Nation's farmers.

It also doesn't serve the families in need and children who depend upon the nutrition programs in the farm bill. It's time to get back to representing the interests of our constituents, not partisan politics. Dairymen are having a tough time in California. Our farmers need certainty, and only a 5-year farm bill can provide that. Both versions of the farm bill also save billions of dollars.

We have bipartisan agreement on this bill. We need to pass this bill so that we can go to conference committee to resolve the differences.

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