Boozman releases Senate GOP farm bill framework

Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.) released the Senate Republican framework for the next farm bill.

New Framework: Boozman said the framework builds on the momentum from the House Agriculture Committee’s passage of its version of the farm bill last month. He also said the framework shares common ground with Democratic counterparts on key priorities.

Stabenow Summary: Senate Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) last month released a section-by-section breakdown of her farm bill priorities. Stabenow said she would like to negotiate with Boozman and House Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-Pa.) before her committee schedules a markup.

House State of Play: Following the House markup, ICBA said the House bill has numerous positive enhancements, such as commodity price and crop insurance supports, though there are concerning provisions. For instance, the bill contains ICBA-opposed provisions to expand the Farm Credit System’s nonfarm lending authority and disparate regulatory treatment, which ICBA has been the only national banking trade group to weigh in against.

Grassroots Push Continues: ICBA continues encouraging community banks to use its Be Heard grassroots action center to call and write their members of Congress on the industry’s farm bill priorities as the debate continues.