News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Betsy Hart, 202-226-8555

HERSETH SANDLIN STATEMENT ON FARM BILL PROGRESS

Washington, D.C., November 15, 2007 – U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin released the following statement regarding ongoing negotiations for the 2007 Farm Bill:

“While it is unfortunate that politics is stalling the Farm Bill in the Senate, it’s too soon to talk about an extension. We have a strong bill that passed the House, and a strong bill that is pending in the Senate. I am hopeful that the Senate can settle their differences and put politics aside, so that we can convene a conference committee and send this important legislation to the White House before the end of the year - and send it there with sufficiently strong bipartisan support to override the threatened veto.

“Delaying a full reauthorization for another year could also mean that we would face an even worse budget situation than we have now, given the fact that Congress reassesses its baseline funding projections every year. So it would truly be a shame to throw away the progress we have made this year in writing a strong farm bill, and unfortunately, our producers would be the ones who suffer.”

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Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.