Several Bills Clear House Ag Committee

The United States Capitol Building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

Key bills on everything from boosting EQIP funding and domestic fertilizer production to increasing meat processing competition moved through the House Ag Committee on Wednesday, though one highly controversial bill passed on a mostly party-line vote. That bill is the “Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act,” by Virginia Democrat Abigail Spanberger…

Central MO Info · 22 0519 Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) on Meat & Poultry Special Investigator Act

But that was little comfort to Republicans on the committee, led by Pennsylvania’s GT Thompson, who questioned the bill’s goals…

Central MO Info · 22 0519 Rep. GT Thompson (R-PA) on Meat & Poultry Special Investigator Act

Thompson said several meat industry groups including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association opposed the bill, while the American Farm Bureau Federation has raised several questions. Spanberger responded by noting that the National Farmers Union and many cow-calf producers are backing her bill, which has a bipartisan companion in the Senate. Only one Republican on the committee, South Dakota’s Dusty Johnson, voted in favor.

Less controversial bills that advanced from committee Wednesday would boost climate and conservation support, EQIP nutrient management incentives, precision agriculture, U.S. fertilizer production, meat processing competition, and supply chain resilience.

From NAFB News Service