House votes down farm bill

Members of the U.S. House voted down the farm bill on Friday by a vote of 213-198 and what happens next is unclear.

Conservative lawmakers had asked Republican leaders to not take the vote until an immigration bill was considered. The current farm bill proposal from House Ag Committee Republicans puts stricter work requirements on food stamp recipients. Democrats oppose those requirements.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) issued this statement on Friday’s House farm bill vote:

“We experienced a setback today after a streak of victories all week. We may be down, but we are not out. We will deliver a strong, new farm bill on time as the President of the United States has called on us to do. Our nation’s farmers and ranchers and rural America deserve nothing less.”

While speaking on the House floor prior to the vote on the bill, also known as the Agriculture and Nutrition Act, Conaway highlighted the importance of voting “yes” to the bill which he says benefits producers and consumers alike.

A statement from Conaway’s office said the House would continue its efforts to deliver a farm bill to the president’s desk on time.

The farm bill is set to expire Sept. 30 and was last reauthorized in 2014.