Courtney statement after U.S. House Rejects the Five Year Farm Bill

Congressman Joe Courtney today opposed the 2014 Farm Bill, which was rejected by the House by a vote of 195-234.

"Over the last three years I have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the House Agriculture Committee to craft a multiyear Farm Bill that would benefit Connecticut and the nation," Congressman Courtney said. "While I appreciate the efforts of Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson to forge a bipartisan comprise on a range of tough issues, it was very disappointing to see a number of partisan poison pills added to the bill over the course of the last two days that ended chances for the House to unite and pass this critical legislation."

Congressman Courtney cited elimination of a comprehensive dairy safety net through passage of the Goodlatte/Scott Amendment, deep cuts to nutrition programs, intrusions into states' rights to enact individual agriculture standards through the so-called "King Amendment" as reasons why he opposed the bill.

"While this process has been halted for now, I will continue to search for a way forward that benefits Connecticut's farmers, consumers, and families most in need," Congressman Courtney added.

Congressman Courtney is a member of the House Agriculture Committee and a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus.