Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today was named as a member of the Farm Bill Conference Committee. Members of the Committee are tasked with reconciling the differences between the Senate- and House-passed bills and producing a final bill that will provide much-needed certainty to Colorado farmers and ranchers.
Bennet, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources, will work to preserve provisions in the bill that are priorities for Colorado producers and rural communities.
The Farm Bill governs our national agriculture, nutrition, private lands conservation, and forestry policy. It is supposed to be reauthorized every five years, however the 2008 bill expired and has been operating on a short-term extension ever since.
"Colorado farmers and ranchers have waited far too long for Congress to complete its work on the Farm Bill, and producers around the country are paying the price for Congress' inaction," Bennet said. "The Senate bill was written with great input from Coloradans. It passed with bipartisan support and includes crucial reforms that streamline and consolidate programs so they work better for our farmers and ranchers. Now that we finally have a House bill, it's time to come together and make responsible reforms to both our agriculture and nutrition programs.
"I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and House and thank Chairwoman Stabenow for giving me the opportunity to represent Colorado on this committee and finally get this bill to the president's desk to be signed into law," Bennet added.
As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Bennet helped craft the Senate bill with input he received from dozens of listening sessions and meetings held throughout Colorado.
Agriculture adds $40 billion to Colorado's economy every year, making the Farm Bill particularly relevant. It also supports tourism and other vital industries with its increased focus on conservation and forest health – two priorities Bennet fought to include in the Senate bill.