June 21, 2018
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today narrowly passed its deeply flawed Farm Bill in a revote after failing to pass the same bill last month. Today’s vote was 213-211 in favor. The partisan House Farm Bill eviscerates energy title programs including the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
In response, Andy Olsen, Senior Policy Advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center, said:
“The House should have gone back to the drawing board on its failed Farm Bill. Gutting energy title programs including REAP will hurt farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses seeking to improve their bottom lines by investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy. This bill also undermines important conservation programs that bring benefits to farmers across the Midwest including in the Driftless area.”
Ann Mesnikoff, ELPC’s Federal Legislative Director added, “The Senate Farm Bill’s continuation of REAP and the energy title with mandatory funding stands in stark contrast to the flawed House bill that eviscerated both the energy title and mandatory funding for REAP and other programs.”
“We look forward to the Senate taking up their Farm Bill next week and hope that their sensible bipartisan approach to both energy and conservation programs will prevail,” continued Andy Olsen.
REAP provides grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to adopt energy efficiency and renewable energy. REAP has been highly popular with farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses in the Midwest. Demand for the program regularly exceeds available funds.
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