The same Senate farm bill bottled up by House Republicans last year was re-introduced Tuesday by a group of senators that included Colorado’s Michael Bennet.
The five-year spending plan for programs such as food stamps, farm subsidies, crop insurance and research costs about $500 billion. The Senate plan cuts about $23 billion from projected spending. Last year, House members wanted $35 billion in cuts and allowed the Senate bill to expire.
Congress extended most of the provisions of 2008 farm bill until September in order to try again to pass a farm bill this year.
Bennet is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
“Coloradans across the state helped write key provisions in this bill, and I will fight to make sure their voices are heard,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “Let’s hope this bill passes Congress quickly this year. Colorado’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities have already waited too long.”
