The Committee cut programs across the board, including conservation,
nutrition, commodity, and rural development, as part of its
deficit-cutting budget reconciliation package. The proposal by Committee
Chairman Goodlatte (R-VA) made $3.7 billion in cuts in the farm bill over
the next five years, going well above the $3 billion in cuts required by
the Congressional Budget Resolution. The package passed on a party line
vote, with Rep. Johnson (R-IL) being the sole exception among republicans
voting to eliminate the funding.
"These cuts could not come at a worse time with energy prices hitting all
time highs and farmers and other citizens reeling from high fuel, heating
and power costs," said a statement for EESI. "These programs have had
strong bipartisan support in the past because they looked to the future
and promoted innovation and home-grown clean energy alternatives."
This measure now goes to the House Budget Committee, which will next week
combine the proposed cuts from other House committees into one large
reconciliation bill. It is likely to come to the House floor for a vote
the week of November 7.
The House Agriculture Committee action is in stark contrast to the
approach of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee,
which also made significant cuts but did so without touching the Renewable
Energy Program (Sec. 9006) or the Value-Add Program (Sec. 6401) to garner
the $3 billion in required cuts.
After the House and Senate take their respective floor actions, the
differences will have to be worked out in a joint conference committee --
which will play an exceedingly pivotal role given the differences in the
overall House and Senate approaches.