The House of Representatives followed through with passage of the farm bill Wednesday, sending the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to President Trump for signature.
House members voted 369 to 47 in favor of the bill.
Of the votes against the bill, 44 were Republicans and just three were Democrats.
The action followed Tuesday’s passage in the Senate, 87 to 13.
The long-awaited five-year farm bill replaces the expired 2014 farm bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, says the bill “sets us on a better path for producers, for rural communities and American consumers.”
The House action met obvious fanfare from the agriculture community.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, whose department will be charged with implementing the bill once signed, said there were “missed opportunities” in forest management and work requirement for certain SNAP recipients, but adds the bill does provides a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers, “who need the dependability and certainty” from Washington.
