Fresno, California – With just two votes to spare, Datatech has learned that the House of Representatives has passed the 2018 Farm Bill(H.R. 2)Thursday on a 213 to 211 vote. There was a question as to whether a vote would take place at all after a conservative immigration measure failed in the House on Thursday.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway(TX-11) said after the vote, “Today’s vote was about keeping faith with the men and women of rural America and about the enduring promise of the dignity of a day’s work. It was about providing certainty to farmers and ranchers who have been struggling under the weight of a five-year recession and about providing our neighbors in need with more than just a handout, but a hand up. I’m proud of what this body has accomplished, and now look forward to working with the Senate and the president to deliver a farm bill on time to the American people.”
The more conservative House Republicans known as the Freedom Caucus had withheld votes last month over the immigration debate raging. But it seems enough came to the ‘aye’ side after receiving assurances that immigration negotiations were forcing votes in the House first before the Farm Bill.
So where does this leave the immigration legislation known as “Securing America’s Future Act?”(H.R. 4760) The Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) bill was defeated on the House floor Thursday 193-231. The proposal leaned more to the conservative side of the House approving a wall but not paying for it and not solving the DACA or ‘Dreamer’ issue. The moderate immigration proposal will put up $25 Billion for a border wall and provide an eventual path to citizenship for ‘Dreamers.’ A vote on the moderate proposal could happen on Friday morning. A lot of pessimism is being voiced as to whether this compromise immigration bill will get passed the House. Stay tuned.
Datatech serves agribusinesses nationwide with farm accounting software including payroll and human resources solutions.