Just before Congress and President Bush starting waging war on terrorism, the House of Representatives approved the Food Security Act of 2001, rejecting an amendment to remove 40% of farmers' safety net funding.
Rejection of the amendment underscores the broad base of support for the Farm Bill's provisions, including an 80% increase in conservation funds, according to the House of Representatives.
The Senate, in the meantime, is still scheduling Farm Bill hearings while Ag Secretary Ann Veneman lambastes the House version:
“The concern with H.R. 2646 is that it does not … help farmers most in need, encourages overproduction while prices are low, jeopardizes U.S. markets abroad, which would hurt our producers, and boosts federal spending by $70 billion over the next ten years at a time of budget uncertainty.”