WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led House on Thursday narrowly passed a sweeping farm bill that would toughen work requirements for food stamp recipients.
The bill passed 213-211.
Democrats opposed the bill, saying it would take government food assistance away from too many people.
The measure renews the safety net for farmers as President Donald Trump’s tough talk on tariffs threatens to reduce markets for some of their products.
The House bill sets up a certain clash with the Senate, which looks to make mostly modest adjustments to existing programs and doesn’t want to pick a fight over food stamps.
All five GOP House members representing Nebraska and western Iowa voted for the farm bill, including Rep. Adrian Smith, who represents the state’s heavily agricultural 3rd District.
“After the turbulence we’ve seen recently in commodity prices, a long-term Farm Bill will help to address the concerns I hear while traveling Nebraska’s Third District,” Smith said in a release. “I look forward to the Senate passing its version of the bill so we can move the process forward.”
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry said he’ll be pushing to get provisions he included to promote rural health associations in the final version.
World-Herald staff writer Joseph Morton contributed to this report.
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