2018 Farm Bill Conference Report Summary of 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report

2018 Farm Bill Timeline

June 23, 2017

House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) and committee members Reps. Ted Yoho (FL-3) and Neal Dunn (FL-2) pen an op-ed in The Gainesville Sun about the value of input from farmers and ranchers at the Farm Bill listening sessions around the country.
  • CLICK HERE to read the op-ed in The Gainesville Sun.

June 24, 2017

House Ag Committee holds Farm Bill Listening Session in Gainesville, Florida.

July 31, 2017

House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) pens an op-ed in the San Angelo Standard-Times emphasizing that Texas values are at the heart of the farm bill talks.
  • CLICK HERE to read the op-ed in the San Angelo Standard-Times.

August 3, 2017

House Ag Committee holds Farm Bill Listening Session in Morgan, Minnesota.

August 5, 2017

House Ag Committee holds Farm Bill Listening Session in Modesto, California..

August 30, 2017

House Ag Committee holds Farm Bill Listening Session in Decatur, Illinois.

September 3, 2017

House Ag Committee launches the #FarmBillFriday video series, featuring members from around the country highlighting the importance of agriculture and the farm bill in their districts.
  • CLICK HERE to watch the #FarmBillFriday video series.
  • CLICK HERE for a list of members who participated in #FarmBillFriday.

October 9, 2017

House Ag Committee holds Farm Bill Listening Session in Cobleskill, New York.

December 13, 2017

House Ag Committee Launches Farm Bill landing page to provide updates and information related to the 2018 Farm Bill.

December 13, 2017

House Ag Committee launch its first 2018 Farm Bill video entitled “This is the Farm Bill,” educating the public on the critical importance of strong agricultural policy.

December 14, 2017

House Ag Committee releases “Drafting the Next Farm Bill: Three Years of Preparation” outlining the groundwork laid by the committee to develop a comprehensive bill that will improve policy touching all areas of the bill.

March 15, 2018

House Ag Committee Democrats send Ranking Member Peterson a letter calling for an immediate stop to negotiations on the 2018 Farm Bill.

April 11, 2018

House Ag Committee released a video highlighting the extensive, three-year review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and emphasizing the importance of getting the policy right.

April 11, 2018

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board editorialized in favor of the House Ag Committee’s proposed improvements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), crediting House Republicans for “trying to fix disincentives in food stamps amid what are sure to be nasty and dishonest attacks.”

April 12, 2018

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) and Lee Bowes, CEO of America Works of New York, Inc., pen an op-ed in USA Today making the case for the House Republicans proposal to improve food stamp work requirements, outlining how these changes will help lift people out of poverty.

April 12, 2018

House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) introduces the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2), commonly referred to as the House 2018 Farm Bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read the full legislative text of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018.
  • CLICK HERE to read the section-by-section summary of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018.
  • CLICK HERE to read policy highlights in the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018.
  • CLICK HERE for video of the press conference announcing the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018.
  • CLICK HERE for a video highlighting the 114 hearings, six listening session and countless industry meetings that laid the groundwork for the 2018 House Farm Bill.

April 12, 2018

House Ag Committee releases summary materials on the 2018 Farm Bill (H.R. 2) on the farm bill landing page.
  • CLICK HERE to read a short summary of the bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read the top 10 highlights of the bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read a Q&A about the bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read about the improvements for beginning farmers in the bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read about the infrastructure improvements, from rural development to animal disease preparedness, included in the bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read about the improvements to trade programs in the bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read about why extending the 2014 Farm Bill will only hurt farmers and ranchers.
  • CLICK HERE to read about the improvements to specialty crops in the bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read a summary of the proposed improvements to SNAP in the bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read the claims vs. the facts about the proposed improvements to SNAP work requirements.
  • CLICK HERE to read a section-by-section explanation of the improvements to SNAP in the bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read the problems with SNAP work requirements and the proposed solution in the 2018 Farm Bill.

April 15, 2018

House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) joined Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Jeff Nalley to discuss the 2018 Farm Bill.

April 17, 2018

House Ag Committee releases a farm bill video highlighting the cuts to net farm income over the past five years and the farm policy needed to provide a safety net to provide certainty to farmers and ranchers.

April 18, 2018

House Agriculture Committee Approves the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2), or the 2018 Farm Bill.
  • CLICK HERE to watch the committee markup of H.R. 2.
  • CLICK HERE to read Chairman Conaway’s opening statement at the markup.
  • CLICK HERE to read Chairman Conaway’s press statement following the markup.

April 26, 2018

House Ag Committee Chairman joined Mike Adams on Adams on Agriculture, to discuss the 2018 Farm Bill.

April 26, 2018

House Ag Committee released a video highlighting how food security equals strong national security because a nation that can feed itself is inherently more secure than a nation that can't.

May 1, 2018

House Ag Committee released a video emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong crop insurance program in the 2018 Farm Bill.

May 3, 2018

House Ag Committee reported H.R. 2 (as amended) by the committee to the House in H. Rept. 115-661.
  • CLICK HERE to view the committee H.Rept. 115-661.

May 4, 2018

House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) and President and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Harry Alford, penned an op-ed in Black Press USA about how the farm bill represents an opportunity to help lift Americans out of poverty.
  • CLICK HERE to read the op-ed in Black Press USA.

May 8, 2018

House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) discussed the proposed improvements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) within the Agriculture and Nutrition Act (H.R. 2) at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).
  • CLICK HERE for highlights of the Chairman's remarks.
  • CLICK HERE to watch the Chairman's speech and Q&A.

May 9, 2018

House Ag Committee Vice Chairman and Nutrition Subcommittee Chairman Glenn ‘GT' Thompson (PA-5/PA-15) penned an op-ed in Penn Live highlighting how the historic investments in nutrition assistance included in the 2018 Farm Bill will change lives.

May 10, 2018

House Ag Committee released a video highlighting the important provisions included in the 2018 Farm Bill, Agriculture and Nutrition Act (H.R. 2), dedicated to helping work-capable SNAP recipients find work or access skills and job training needed to improve their futures.

May 15, 2018

House Ag Committee released a video highlighting how the crop insurance system is working and that any cuts to the program in the form of subsidy caps, Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) means testing and the elimination of the harvest price option will kill the crop insurance program.

May 15, 2018

House Rules Committee approved a rule by a vote of 6-3 that includes floor consideration of H.R. 2, the 2018 Farm Bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read Chairman Conaway's opening statement at the rules committee.
  • CLICK HERE to watch the rules committee debate and discuss the rule.
  • CLICK HERE to read the rule as approved by the committee.
  • CLICK HERE to view the House Rules Committee documents.

May 16, 2018

House calls up H.R. 2, the 2018 Farm Bill on the House floor and opens the bill for general debate.
  • CLICK HERE to watch debate on the bill on the House floor.
  • CLICK HERE to read Chairman Conaway's floor remarks during general debate on the House floor.

May 16, 2018

House Rules Committee approved a rule by a vote of 8-3 opening H.R.2, the 2018 Farm Bill to amendments.
  • CLICK HERE to read the rule approved by the committee.

May 16, 2018

House debated a rule to bring H.R. 2, the 2018 Farm Bill, to the House floor and approved the rule by a vote of 229-185.

May 17, 2018

House debated a rule to open H.R. 2, the 2018 Farm Bill, to amendments on the House floor and approved the rule by a vote of 228-188.

May 17, 2018

House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) and Tarren Bragdon, CEO and president of the Foundation for Government Accountability penned an op-ed in Townhall detailing how the farm bill makes good on the promise of the American dream.

May 17-18, 2018

House debated and voted on numerous amendments on H.R.2, the 2018 Farm Bill.
  • CLICK HERE to watch amendment debate and roll call votes on the House floor.
  • CLICK HERE to view amendments that were agreed to and failed on the House floor.

May 18, 2018

House did not agree to H.R. 2, the Farm Bill, by a vote of 198-213. The House moved to reconsider the bill at a later time.
  • CLICK HERE to view the roll call vote.
  • CLICK HERE to watch Chairman Conaway final remarks on the bill ahead of a vote on final passage.
  • CLICK HERE to read Chairman Conaway's statement following the vote.

June 21, 2018

House moves to reconsider H.R.2, the Farm Bill, and agreed to the bill by a vote of 213-211.
  • CLICK HERE to watch the vote on the House floor.
  • CLICK HERE to view the roll call vote.
  • CLICK HERE to view Chairman Conaway's statement following the vote.

June 28, 2018

Senate agrees to the Senate amendment to H.R.2, the Senate Farm Bill, by a vote of 86-11.

July 9, 2018

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board pens an editorial in support of the House improvements to SNAP work requirements and encourages the Senate and White House to advocate for the reforms.

July 18, 2018

House moves to instruct farm bill conferees and move the bill to conference committee by a vote of 392-20.
  • CLICK HERE to watch the debate on the motion and roll call vote.
  • CLICK HERE to view the roll call vote.
  • CLICK HERE to view House Republican conferees.

August 1, 2018

House Ag Committee launched a video series highlighting every House Republican farm bill conferee's priorities and urgency in the conference committee debate.

September 5, 2018

House and Senate Farm Bill conferees held a public meeting to consider the legislation.
  • CLICK HERE to watch the public meeting.
  • CLICK HERE to read Chairman Conaway's opening remarks.
  • CLICK HERE to read Chairman Conaway's statement following the meeting.

November 29, 2018

House and Senate Ag Leaders announce they reached an agreement in principle on the 2018 Farm Bill.
  • CLICK HERE to read a statement from the House and Senate Ag leaders.

December 10, 2018

House and Senate Ag leaders release the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report.
  • CLICK HERE to read the text of the report.
  • CLICK HERE to read the statement from the House and Senate Ag leaders.

December 11, 2018

House Ag Committee releases video highlighting the wins in the 2018 Farm Bill conference report for rural America and calls on Congress to pass the legislation.

December 11, 2018

Senate agrees to the 2018 Farm Bill conference report by a vote of 87-13.

December 11, 2018

House Rules Committee agrees to a rule providing for the consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R.2.

December 12, 2018

House agrees to the 2018 farm bill conference report by a vote of 369-47.
  • CLICK HERE to watch the vote on the House floor.
  • CLICK HERE to view the roll call vote.
  • CLICK HERE to read Chairman Conaway's final remarks before final passage of the conference report.
  • CLICK HERE to read Chairman Conaway's statement following final passage.
  • CLICK HERE to watch a video from the committee highlighting the farm bill's importance to rural America.

December 20, 2018

2018 Farm Bill Conference Report was signed by President Trump and became Public Law NO: 115-334.