An $867 billion farm bill that narrowly passed the U.S. House on Thursday includes two provisions pushed by Maine Republican Bruce Poliquin, who represents the largely rural 2nd District.
At Poliquin’s urging, the measure includes work requirements for many adults to receive food aid and a provision to replace the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program with one that also allows frozen, canned, pureed and dried food for school snacks for children.
The bill, adopted by 213-211 margin, faces an uncertain future since the Senate is eyeing a different approach in its version of the farm bill.
Poliquin, who is seeking a third term this fall, was especially pleased that his colleagues endorsed a 20-hour-a-week work requirement for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for most adults who don’t have young children.
“It’s critical we help those who are capable of working and who are stuck in welfare learn the skills they need to be successful,” Poliquin said in a prepared statement.
“With the lowest Maine unemployment in decades, and an expanding American economy that is hiring more and more workers, it’s the right time for work-capable adults to become independent and access the opportunities to be successful,” the lawmaker said. “I’m pleased my Maine-based welfare reforms were approved in the House.”
President Donald Trump also hailed the proposed law in a statement published on Twitter after the vote.
“Farm Bill just passed in the House. So happy to see work requirements included. Big win for the farmers!” Trump tweeted.
Maine’s other member of Congress, Democrat Chellie Pingree, opposed the farm bill, which had failed to win a majority the last time the House considered it.
“It’s extremely disappointing to see House Republicans resurrect and pass their partisan Farm Bill today — especially when the other chamber has produced bipartisan legislation that better addresses the opportunities and challenges of the next five years,” Pingree said in a prepared statement.
She said the GOP’s farm bill “cruelly targets Americans in need, weakens conservation and environmental protections, and ignores the growth in local and regional food markets that are helping keep farmers on the land.”
“Despite what happened today, the farm bill being considered in the Senate represents a better way forward and I hope it advances,” Pingree said.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which has a Democratic bent, estimated that the work requirement in the farm bill, if adopted, would cause about a million people to lose food aid.
Poliquin’s support for the changes to the fruits and vegetables program is aimed in large part at boosting the fortunes of Maine’s blueberry growers, who depend on selling frozen berries since their season for fresh ones is so short.
The leading Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., issued a statement blasting the GOP measure for threatening to make more people hungry while failing rural communities.
“The Senate’s version isn’t perfect, but it avoids the hard-line partisan approach that House Republicans have taken here today, and if it passes, I look forward to working with conferees to produce a conference report both parties can support, which is the only way to get a farm bill enacted into law,” Peterson said.
An Iowa cornfield. (Steve Collins/Sun Journal)
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