Congressman Matt Gaetz Issues Statement on Farm Bill

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) issued the following statement on H.R. 2 Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, known as the 2018 Farm Bill.

“After nearly three days of intense debate, the House voted on H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, better known as the “farm bill,” which failed 198–213. I voted against this bill for many reasons, and think that, in many ways, it represents the worst habits of the Washington Swamp. 

The farm bill combines an agriculture spending bill with the food stamp program. I support America’s farmers. They are invaluable to America. I also support a safety net for America’s most vulnerable — especially when programs like food stamps are paired with robust work requirements. But I don’t support, and will never support, Washington waste, and this bill is chock-full of wasteful spending. 

Work requirements for welfare is a common-sense inclusion, and I was glad to see these requirements in the Farm Bill. But for the government to cut welfare spending, then fritter away the savings on new programs — like marketing and promotion programs for rocks! — is fiscally irresponsible, and continues burying future generations of Americans under a mountain of debt. 

Even though the farm bill failed on Friday, it will be reworked over the weekend, and the House is scheduled to have another vote on it next week. Unless it changes significantly, I expect my vote to remain the same,” Rep. Gaetz said.
 

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