Thompson Forestry Bills Advance in House

Washington, D.C. – Before midnight on Wednesday evening the U.S. House Agriculture Committee passed a 5-year farm bill reauthorization, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM) Act of 2013. U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy & Forestry, voted to support the bipartisan measure which passed by a vote of 36-10.

“The House Agriculture Committee has advanced a package of agriculture reforms that will save taxpayers nearly $40 billion and strengthen the economic health of our family farms and local economies,” stated Rep. Thompson. “The FARRM Act will keep our farmers, and our foresters, profitable by streamlining outdated or duplicative programs and improving the overall effectiveness of federal agriculture policies.”

“I look forward to working with members of the committee to further improve this package through the amendment process on the House floor,” Rep. Thompson said. “I also look forward to working with our Senate colleagues to find consensus on a final reauthorization bill that keeps Pennsylvania agriculture strong and America’s farmers globally competitive.”

“Ultimately, we can no longer allow partisan gridlock to prevent these commonsense reforms from becoming law,” Rep. Thompson added.

FARRM Act Summary:

Ø Achieves $40 billion in savings by streamlining and consolidating agriculture programs.

Ø Enacts regulatory relief to help mitigate onerous regulatory mandates and pressures.

Ø Includes Thompson proposal expanding forest product markets (click here).

Ø Includes Thompson proposal improving forest management (click here, pg. 459, sec.8006).

Ø Streamlines conservation programs to improve user access and effectiveness.

Ø Eliminates direct payments that went to farmers regardless of market conditions.

Ø Moves dairy policy away from price supports towards a market-based system.

Ø Reforms the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry voted Tuesday to pass similar legislation, which is expected to be considered by the full Senate in late May. The FARRM Act is expected to be considered by the full House later this summer.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Arrests in Operation Diamond Drop

Image
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, assisted by local police officers from across Erie County and the Pennsylvania State Police, are in the process of arresting 41 suspects linked to a nearly $5 million drug organization operating in and around Erie. Corbett said the nearly 2-year long grand jury investigation, known as “Operation Diamond Drop,” used court-ordered wiretaps, undercover surveillance and controlled drug purchases to identify large-scale cocaine and marijuana traffickers in the region. “Drug trafficking at this level is ‘big business’, including upper-level suppliers, mid-level distributers and street-level sales people,” Corbett said. “Our investigations focus on following the drugs and money to their source, allowing us to attack an entire drug distribution network when we make our arrests.” Corbett said the chief figure charged today is Miguel Angel Burgos, 31, 9891 Holly
Read more

Woman Charged with Posting
Nude Picture on Facebook

A Falconer, New York, woman is facing charges after allegedly posting a naked photo of a Warren woman on Facebook. Police say 22-year-old Lindsay Head posted the picture without the consent of the 21-year-old victim, who is dating Head's ex-boyfriend. Head is charged with dispersing obscene and sexual materials. The picture has been removed from Facebook.
Read more

Two Arrested on Drug Charges

Image
Two people were arrested on drug charges after state police got a report about unauthorized use of a vehicle. Troopers found the vehicle in Randolph on Wednesday and arrested the driver, 31-year-old Bridget Bardo of Conewango, for aggravated unlicensed operation and criminal possession of a controlled substance. She was released on her own recognizance and scheduled to appear in Town of Randolph Court. Her passenger, 28-year-old Andrew Jaquish of Salamanca, was charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police also learned there was an active warrant against him from City of Jamestown Court. He was sent to Chautauqua County Jail on $1,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947
Read more