Congressman Cleaver Applauds Farm Bill Passage

Missouri's Fifth District - It has been a long time coming, but today Congress passed a comprehensive five-year Farm Bill. The 2014 Farm Bill (H.R. 2642) passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 251 to 166.

"This is a critically important moment," said U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II. "After almost two years of fighting for this, we finally have a Farm Bill that will provide security for farmers and ranchers in Missouri's Fifth District, a framework for future investment, and a continued focus on food."

The Congressman says this is not a perfect bill, but one he felt was important to make compromises on and support in a bipartisan fashion. Congressman Cleaver has spoken out against the more than $8 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But after talking with constituents in Missouri's Fifth District, including his Agricultural Advisory Committee, area farmers, ranchers, representatives from food banks in urban, rural, and suburban areas, as well as many others, he agreed a vote in favor of the bill was necessary in order to move the district, and the country, forward.

"We hear the most about the nutrition and farm programs," said Congressman Cleaver, "but there are also programs in this bill to protect our soil and water, feed our seniors and our students, increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables so all Americans can eat green, promote our American products overseas, better our research programs at our universities, and more."

H.R. 2642 garnered support from numerous local, state, and national groups. Some of those included the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Missouri Farm Bureau, American Soybean Association, Dairy Farmers of America, National Corn Growers Association, United States Cattlemen's Association, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, National Association of Conservation Districts, National Wildlife Federation and the Missouri Wine & Grape Board.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and also serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus.