U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) made the following comments after the Farm Bill failed to pass the House:

“I am disappointed that the Farm Bill did not pass the House this afternoon.  Our farmers and ranchers need to know what our nation’s agriculture policy is going be, especially after dealing with several years of market volatility and the effects of Mother Nature.  This is especially true in our part of Texas as the economy relies heavily on agriculture production.

In addition to offering producers some stability, the bill also offered taxpayers close to $40 billion in savings, including reductions in farm policy spending and the repeal or consolidation of over 100 programs.  It also included reasonable, commonsense reforms to the food stamp program.  These are the first reforms to nutrition since welfare reform in 1996, saving over $20.5 billion and closing loopholes the Obama Administration has used to increase participation.  Now there will be no changes, no closed loopholes, and no savings from the massive increases in food stamps because the program is exempt from sequestration. 

Today, the House let the perfect be the enemy of the good, while our farmers and ranchers are left hanging and taxpayers are left with the status quo.  The American people deserve better."