Congress OKs 'veto-proof' Farm Bill

The U.S. House and Senate moved quickly this week to pass the 2007 Farm Bill.

The legislation was approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 14 in a 381-106 vote, more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.

On Thursday, May 15, the U.S. Senate voted 81-15 to adopt the farm bill conference report, providing another veto-proof margin.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee hailed the passage as a "banner day for America."

Texas Farm Bureau lauded members of Congress in their approval of the 2008 Farm Bill, which will guide farm, nutrition and conservation policies in the United States for the next five years

"This has been a long time coming," said Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke. "This is particularly timely in that some 2008 crops are about to be harvested in Texas.

"We commend the members of the Texas delegation that made this vote possible," Dierschke said. "We recognize that this was a particularly difficult vote. The Farm Bill not only provides a needed safety net, it ensures America of the cheapest, safest and most abundant food supply in the world. We thank our elected leaders for their support of our industry and look forward to working with them in the future as we work through issues close to rural Texas."

That opportunity may come sooner than later, Dierschke said. In a statement issued Tuesday, May 13, the White House again reiterated its pledge to veto the Farm Bill.

"While we hope President Bush will reconsider his veto option, we believe that this vote shows the strong support of Congress," Dierschke said. "If the veto comes, the Texas Bureau will work very hard to maintain the support provided by both the House and Senate."

U.S. Cattlemen's Association President Jon Wooster praised Congress for the quick, decisive action.

"U.S. Cattlemen appreciate the due diligence given this important legislation. While it is not a perfect piece of legislation, it certainly contains provisions that will positively affect cattle producers throughout the country. Hopefully, we can look forward to the full implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling. The wide margin of support in both chambers demonstrates a spirit of bipartisanship that agriculture producers deserve and appreciate. We thank the congressional delegations that worked so hard on this legislation and urge President Bush to sign the farm bill into law."