August 8, 2012
www.gfb.org
Vol. 30 No. 32
LIVESTOCK DISASTER ASSISTANCE BILL PASSES HOUSE Rather than consider a full five-year farm bill before its August recess, the U.S. House passed H.R. 6233 on Aug. 2, reinstating four disaster assistance programs that expired in 2011, aimed in part at providing relief for livestock owners who are suffering losses due to drought. H.R. 6233, the Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2012, was sponsored by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and passed by a vote of 223197. It was not addressed by the Senate before Congress adjourned for its August recess. Congress is scheduled to reconvene on Sept. 10. The bill provides $383 million in emergency disaster assistance by retroactively extending the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). The bill offsets the spending by trimming $639 million from the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The CSP funding was reduced by cutting the number of acres that can be enrolled in the program. The remaining $256 million was designated for debt reduction. Among other things, the bill would authorize the USDA to provide FY 2012 compensation from Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses caused by drought or fire. To view a summary of the bill’s provisions, visit http://tinyurl.com/93uozfe. Nine of Georgia’s 13 House members voted for the bill. Reps. Paul Broun (R-10th Dist.), Tom Graves (R-9th Dist.) and John Lewis (D-5th Dist.) voted against it. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-4th Dist.) did not vote. “In light of the recent record-breaking drought in Southwest Georgia this measure is vitally important to Georgia’s farmers and agricultural community,” said Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-2nd Dist.), who voted for the measure. “While I am concerned that the legislation makes significant reductions to much-needed conservation programs, the measure will provide much-needed relief for these farmers while Congress pushes for the passage of a fair and comprehensive farm bill.” American Farm Bureau did not oppose the bill, noting that the disaster assistance provisions in H.R. 6233 were included in the farm bill approved by the House Agriculture Committee in July, with additional aid measures for fruit and vegetable farmers not covered under H.R. 6233. AFBF urged House members to reach an agreement on a new farm bill before the current one expires on Sept. 30.