On December 12, the House approved, by voice vote, H.R. 3695, a bill to extend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act, also known as the Farm Bill (P.L. 110-246), until January 31, 2014. In July, the House passed its version of the Farm Bill, H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (see The Source, 7/12/13); the Senate approved its initial version (S. 954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act) on June 10 (see The Source, 6/14/13). The Senate later considered and passed H.R. 2642, but only after amending the measure. The most recent Farm Bill extension (P.L. 112-240) expired on September 30.
Although both chambers agreed to meet via conference committee to resolve differences in the two versions of H.R. 2642, an agreement has yet to be reached. Among the key points of contention is the reauthorization of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program.
Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) already has indicated that the Senate will not consider a one-month extension.
