Senator Young Votes to Pass Farm Bill
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined his Senate colleagues today in voting to advance the Farm Bill Conference Report, which is a bipartisan agreement between the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill. This Farm Bill compromise improves risk management tools for farmers, strengthens food security while eliminating wasteful practices, and ensures Hoosiers can continue innovative conservation efforts that increase yield and prioritize soil health. The Senate passed the bill today by a vote of 87-13. It must now pass the House before heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Senator Young’s legislation prioritizing international biotechnology marketing efforts was included in the Farm Bill Conference Report in Section 3301. The Growing American Food Exports Act (S. 3103) helps to strengthen our country’s agriculture industry by ensuring that innovative biotechnology products have access to a competitive export economy.
“Today’s passage of the Farm Bill is important to farmers in Indiana and across the country,” said Senator Young.“I am grateful that my biotechnology legislation was included in this package, and I will continue working on behalf of Indiana’s farming community to ensure that this important industry remains strong.”
Passage of the Farm Bill Conference Report will provide necessary stability to Hoosier farmers. In Indiana, 97 percent of farms are family owned, and more than 100,000 jobs are supported by agriculture.
What they are saying:
Randy Kron, Indiana Farm Bureau President said,“It’s essential that we continue to provide our farmers with the opportunity to compete in a global market. The inclusion of the Growing American Food Exports Acts in the new farm bill is a step in the right direction. Farmers are an innovative group with a good grasp on modern technology. Better access to trading partners for agriculture’s biotechnology products can create new opportunities for our rural farming communities and should spur innovation.”
Dana O’Brien, BIO’s Executive Vice President for Food and Agriculture said,“Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) applauds the inclusion of the Growing American Food Exports Act, legislation introduced by Senator Young (R-Ind.), in the 2018 Farm Bill. Trade is critical to the American agricultural economy, as 20 percent of U.S. grown goods are bound for foreign markets. We are grateful to Senator Young and other leaders on Capitol Hill for ensuring that USDA has the resources needed to advocate for the fair treatment of agricultural technologies and American-grown goods.”
Additional supporters of the Growing American Food Exports Act include the American Seed Trade Association, Indiana Corn Growers Association, and Indiana Soybean Alliance.