OCTOBER 23, 2001 ADMINISTRATION AGAIN URGES DELAY OF FARM BILL In a letter to farm organizations released by the White House today, Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman and OMB Director Mitch Daniels reiterated the Administration's strong preference to delay consideration of a new farm bill in the Senate until next year in order to allow time to "ensure a thoughtful, thorough approach to a new policy" that better serves agriculture.
The letter points out that the Administration is willing to spend more money on a new farm bill than the additional $25 billion suggested earlier, over five years, if good policy is involved.
An urgent new agenda confronts the Congress and Administration, now operating under difficult circumstances.
We believe that in this situation it is both unnecessary and unwise to act in haste to pass a farm bill when the current farm law does not expire until next September."
View the USDA-OMB joint letter.