The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote today on the long-delayed federal farm bill.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan was a key player in the long, drawn-out negotiations on the multi-billion dollar legislation.
She’s the chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture committee.
Stabenow says she’s glad to see the new farm bill will shift spending to insurance programs and away from direct subsidies to farmers.
“For decades folks have been talking about eliminating direct payments. It’s never happened. And in this farm bill, we do that,” says Stabenow.
The farm bill also contains a compromise on federal food assistance programs.
The bill calls for a 1% cut in food assistance spending. That is more than Democrats wanted, but far less than Republicans wanted.
