Congress allows farm bill to lapse before reauthorization deadline

Source: The Hill

Congress quietly allowed the farm bill to expire over the weekend despite House Republicans’ hopes they would come to a consensus and pass a reauthorization ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline.

The expiration was blamed on discrepancies between the House and the Senate, as well as the parties over key provisions, including most prominently over a House provision to attach work requirements to the food stamp benefits in the current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Democrats blasted the welfare reform language, arguing the Senate-passed version did not include the changes, while saying the requirements could be detrimental to the safety net relied upon by low-income earners — a criticism Republicans have rebuffed.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) — who expressed determination come to a consensus before the end of the weekend — told reporters Friday the lack of urgency to pass the measure could prove to be problematic for those in rural America.



Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/409368-congress-allows-farm-bill-to-lapse-before-reauthorization-deadline