WASHINGTON—The House on Thursday narrowly passed a Republican-written bill that reauthorizes farm programs while also imposing controversial new work requirements on food-stamp recipients, acting on legislation that is important to a critical GOP constituency before the midterm elections.
The bill passed on a 213-211 vote. The Senate is expected to vote next week on its own version of the bill, which funds crop insurance and payments to farmers when commodity prices or revenues drop below set levels. The measure also funds programs to help low-income people afford basic nutritional needs.
The bill’s work requirements reflect a drive by House Republicans to overhaul the country’s welfare system. On Thursday, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) touted the provision as a way to “close the skills gap and get more people into the workforce and onto the ladder of opportunity.” It is likely to get stripped out in the Senate, where members have statewide constituencies and are more likely to represent populations who depend on the supplemental nutritional program.
Top Republican leaders have been driving to pass the farm bill well before the Sept. 30 expiration date of current programs, at which point funding would have lapsed for dozens of smaller programs, including assistance to new farmers, trade and rural development.
Source : MTV
