Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, also known as the Farm Bill, with a bipartisan 34-17 vote. U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) voted to pass the Farm Bill which contains dozens of Johnson’s priorities that support farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and across America.
“I’ve met with ag producers across South Dakota and they all agree – we need a Farm Bill. I agree, and that’s why I’m proud to have worked with Chairman Thompson to finalize this legislation,” said Johnson. “This Farm Bill invests in rural America and provides needed certainty for producers by building on the work completed in the Working Families Tax Cuts. These investments in American agriculture strengthen communities, secure our food supply chains, and put our producers first.”
Johnson’s bills included in the Farm Bill:
- The SAFETY Act to safeguard American exports from unfair trade practices.
- The Butcher Block Act to assist with new and expanding livestock and meat processors.
- The Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act to provide funding and technical support for water infrastructure in rural communities.
- The Healthy Dog Importation Act to ensure dogs imported into the U.S. are in good health and have received proper vaccines and medical treatment.
- The A-Plus Act to increase investments in small meat packers.
- The ACES Act to add agricultural cooperatives with fewer than 2,500 employees as qualified entities under the Rural Energy for America Program.
- The Increased TSP (Technical Service Providers) Access Act to improve and expand the certification and participation process for Technical Service Providers under United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs.
- Transfer Food for Peace from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to USDA, as seen in H.R. 1207.
- The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act to improve nutrition and increase access to dairy products for low-income populations.
- The CAREERS Act to strengthen workforce development and career education programs.
- The Save Our Bacon Act to block California’s Proposition 12 requirements on producers.
Johnson’s crop and conservation priorities included in the Farm Bill:
- Provides long-term investments in working lands conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
- Johnson’s amendment to clarify that tech-neutral modernization is eligible for fencing repair or replacement under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).
Johnson’s rural development priorities included in the Farm Bill:
- Updates and modernizes USDA broadband programs, providing faster buildout speeds and strengthening connectivity to rural communities.
- Codifies the Circuit Rider Program, which provides technical assistance for rural water systems.
- Broadens the Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program to support new investments in food infrastructure for a more resilient and diverse U.S. food supply chain.
- Reauthorizes the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program and permits awardees to provide other forms of collateral to secure loans.
Johnson’s other agricultural priorities included in the Farm Bill:
- Johnson’s amendment to strengthen Tribal 1994 Land Grant Institutions by expanding their ability to acquire land, modernize facilities, and invest in equipment to support ag research and extension.
- Reauthorizes the New Beginnings for Tribal Students Program and removes the cap on funding each state can receive.
- Reauthorizes the Sun Grant Program, expands the scope to include bioproducts, and allows universities to better utilize grant funding.
- Reauthorizes the Wood Innovation Grant Program, reduces the non-Federal match, and authorizes grants for hauling materials to locations that can utilize it.
- Directs additional resources toward livestock and poultry disease preparedness, including the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program, and the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank.
- More than doubles authorization funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program, enabling better market access and trade promotion.
- Reforms reporting requirements under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act to ensure accuracy and transparency of data on farmland owned by foreign persons.
- Allows the Secretary to enter into self-determination contracts with Tribes to operate SNAP, consistent with the SNAP Tribal Food Sovereignty Act.
