News Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture – today voted in favor of the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2, the Farm Bill, which passed the United States Senate 87-13.

“Kansas farmers and ranchers need the certainty of a five-year Farm Bill,” said Sen. Moran. “Times have been tough in ag communities – the weather has not been our friend this year, and commodity prices are down. Escalating trade tensions have also caused a strain on Kansas’ ag economy. This Farm Bill, which protects crop insurance, will be helpful to ag producers by strengthening the farm safety net and encouraging responsible land stewardship through conservation programs.”

“I’m pleased the Conference Report included my Emergency Conservation Program provisions to increase the amount of assistance in times of disaster and allow payments for fences to be made in advance,” continued Sen. Moran. “The bill also supports key rural development initiatives, including a pilot program within USDA to bolster broadband deployment. I urge the House to quickly pass this Conference Report and get it to the president’s desk for signature.”

Items to Note:

  • The Farm Bill Conference Report passed today includes an amendment led by Sen. Moran to allow advance payments through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) for farmers and ranchers to replace fences following natural disasters. Sen. Moran’s amendment carries no cost. 
  • This bill also contains Sen. Moran’s proposal to more than double the amount of ECP assistance a landowner is able to receive when rebuilding from a disaster. These provisions reflect legislation Sen. Moran introduced in 2017 and were drafted based on input from Kansas ranchers following devastating fires in March 2017.
  • The Farm Bill also addresses a number of Sen. Moran’s priorities in expanding rural broadband access for Kansans. This legislation prevents the federally-subsidized overbuilding of broadband infrastructure in an effort to more strategically use taxpayer dollars to close the digital divide.

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