Tom Harkin: “let me bring to a close this debate on the farm bill. First, let me recap. This is not called the farm bill. It is…”

“let me bring to a close this debate on the farm bill. First, let me recap. This is not called the farm bill. It is called the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act for good reason--because 67 percent of all the new money in this bill goes to nutrition to help low-income Americans, to help our kids in school get a better diet of fresh fruits and vegetables. We also lifted the childcare cap that has been there since 1993. Right now it is $175 a month. The average cost of childcare is $631 dollars a month. We have lifted the cap on childcare deductibility for those low income Americans who need food assistance. Let me read this quote from Second Harvest, Vicki Escarra, president of America's Second Harvest: On behalf of our nation's food banks, I urge Senators to vote in favor of this hunger-fighting farm bill for the millions of low-income Americans on the brink of catastrophe, facing some of the most difficult economic times they have had to endure in years. I urge Senators to support this vitally important and necessary legislation.”