Press Releases

         
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today,  U.S. Representative Paul Gosar (AZ-04), released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act, commonly referred to as the Farm Bill, by a recorded vote of 213-211: 

Congressman Gosar said, “I applaud Chairman Conaway for his strong leadership and all the time he put into crafting a thoughtful Farm Bill with meaningful reforms. 87% of Americans support requiring welfare recipients to work in order to receive benefits and that was the main reason I voted for the bill today. If we have a flawed conference process and the Senate waters down or strips out the work requirements, my vote will likely be lost as well. Having said that, I am also extremely proud of the Western Caucus victories secured in this legislation including repealing the Obama Administration's unconstitutional WOTUS Rule, authorizing significant provisions that will improve forest health and allow active management, modernizing the Endangered Species Act and streamlining wireless broadband.”

Background:

Today, June 21, 2018, the House passed H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act, commonly referred to as the Farm Bill, by a recorded vote of 213-211.

The bill included a plethora of Western Caucus victories as detailed below.

H.R. 2 makes significant reforms to the farm and nutrition assistance programs and reauthorizes the farm bill for five years.

The bill is good for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

The 2014 Farm Bill was initially estimated to save $23 billion over 10 years but has greatly surpassed that estimate and is now expected to save more than $100 billion.

H.R. 2 includes over 35 improvements to SNAP including establishing substantive work requirements for all work capable adults

The bill has one of the strongest forestry titles of any farm bill and was made even stronger by the Western Caucus passed amendments. Specifically, the base bills includes 10 categorical exclusions and reauthorizes the Landscape Scale Restoration Program in order to allow for active management of our nation’s forests and critical response. 

This legislation includes common sense reforms to the onerous and conflicting Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation process.

• The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council letter HERE.

• Previous release from the Western Caucus when the bill was introduced HERE.
• Summary courtesy of the House Agriculture Committee HERE.
• For more information on the bill, visit agriculture.house.gov/farmbill.

Western Caucus Floor Amendment Highlights:

• Includes the Jim Banks (IN-03) Amendment that repeals WOTUS. More HERE.
• Includes the Don Young (AK-At Large) Amendment that exempts Alaska from the 2001 Roadless Rule. More HERE.
• Includes the Mike Johnson (LA-04) Amendment that modernizes Endangered Species Act habitat requirements. More HERE.
• Includes the Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) wireless broadband streamlining Amendment More HERE.
• Includes the Liz Cheney (WY-At Large) grazing leases Amendment. More HERE.
• Includes the Greg Gianforte (MT-At Large) wildfire salvage operations Amendment.

• Includes the Bruce Westerman (AR-04) Balance of Harms & Action/No Action Amendment which requires that the costs of inaction be weighed and also provides injunctive relief.
• Includes the Paul Gosar (AZ-04) Good Neighbor Authority for Counties Amendment. More HERE.