-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email On Monday, Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow , the Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, unveiled the long-awaited Senate Farm Bill , a sweeping piece of legislation that touches nearly every aspect of the nation’s food and agriculture policy . The release comes after the expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill extension on Sept. 30, 2023, leaving many programs under the bill vulnerable to lapsing as the year-end deadline approaches.
Programs such as crop insurance, commodity support and nutrition assistance are set to expire at the end of the year, heightening the urgency for Congress to take action. It also comes at a key time for millions of Americans, as elevated grocery prices and persistent inflation have exacerbated food insecurity across the country. Related Republican Farm Bill would weaken pesticide protections and put communities at risk While Stabenow’s text prioritizes expanding access to federal nutrition programs like SNAP , the bill’s release also highlights the deepening partisan rift over the Farm Bill’s priorities.
Republicans have criticized the legislation as overly focused on food aid at the expense of agricultural producers — and now that they control the House, Senate and White House , it’s unlikely Stabenow’s version of the bill will be passed by year-end, if at all. Her announcement, however, underscores her commitment to advancing comprehensive food policy reform during her final term in .