WASHINGTON, DC – A procedural dispute over amendments surfaced before the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced Farm Bill 2.0 Wednesday, with Iowa Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley objecting to the decision not to reopen the bill for additional changes.
Ernst attempted to call up a previously filed amendment addressing California Proposition 12. She argued the amendment was timely and that the August recess left Title 12 open. Chairman John Boozman ruled it out of order.
Boozman said the committee had already closed all 12 titles during the August 6 markup and returned only to complete the reporting vote. He said reopening one amendment would effectively reopen the entire committee process.
Grassley also objected to the lack of additional amendment votes. He said he wanted consideration of Proposition 12 and a bipartisan proposal involving Packers and Stockyards Act rules affecting livestock and poultry producers.
Senators John Thune and John Hoeven said members could offer amendments during Senate floor debate. The committee ultimately voted 12-11 to advance the bill, leaving those disputes unresolved.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Livestock policy disputes over Proposition 12 and Packers and Stockyards rules could return during Senate floor debate.