Tina Smith: “I rise today to voice my support for the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, which is the strong, bipartisan farm…”

“I rise today to voice my support for the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, which is the strong, bipartisan farm bill proposal that has been put forward by our colleague from Michigan, Senator Stabenow, chair of the Agriculture Committee. Chair Stabenow's framework reflects more than 2 years of work and outreach and contains more than 100 bipartisan bills, and it puts the 2024 farm bill back on track for being signed into law this year. As Chair Stabenow says, this farm bill is designed to keep farmers farming, families fed, and rural communities strong. The farm bill touches nearly every aspect of life, and it touches the life of nearly every American. It is a big, complicated piece of legislation, but at its core, it does three things. The first is that it governs how nutrition assistance, like SNAP, works for 42 million Americans, including 2.5 million rural residents. The second thing is that it sets the rules for how farm and forestry programs work, including conservation and risk management tools like crop insurance, animal health, research and education, and forestry and timber. Third, it drives rural development by supporting rural broadband, housing, childcare, and rural energy so that rural America can be strong, prosperous, and competitive.…”