The Senate Agriculture Committee voted along party lines on Wednesday to advance a sprawling farm and nutrition package, a move that became possible only after Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) returned to the panel following his recovery from a serious fall.
The 12-11 vote sends the legislation to the full Senate floor, where it will face an uncertain future given the narrow Republican majority and deep partisan divisions over food assistance programs. The bill, often referred to as the farm bill, is typically reauthorized every five years, but Congress has not passed one since 2018. The House approved its version in April.
McConnell's absence from Congress since a June fall at his Washington home had stalled the panel's work, as Democrats uniformly opposed advancing the measure without his vote. His return this week tipped the balance, allowing Republicans to push the bill through committee despite objections from the minority.
At the heart of the dispute is a provision that would require states to shoulder a larger share of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if their payment error rates exceed a certain threshold. Democrats argue this shifts an unfair burden onto states, particularly those like Minnesota and Colorado that have higher administrative costs or unique challenges.
Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) offered a compromise—a one-year delay in implementing the provision—but Democrats rejected it. “We offered a one-year delay with no payment, no cost. It was rejected,” Boozman said during the session. “We're running out of time, and we're rapidly losing a window that we can actually get this thing passed.”
Boozman defended the underlying policy, saying it was designed to give states the support they need to reduce error rates, which he noted can run as high as 20 to 25 percent. “The goal is to help them get under control,” he said.
Ranking member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) acknowledged the shared objective of reducing errors but argued the one-year delay is insufficient. “We share this goal of reducing error rates, but we recognize the reality that states across the country need time and equal resources to bring them down,” she said. “I appreciate Chairman Boozman's offer in this bill and the inclusion of this one-year delay, and it is a big start from where we were.”
The committee session also featured an attempt by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) to introduce an amendment related to the so-called Save Our Bacon Act, but Boozman cut her off, noting she had previously had the opportunity to offer it. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) also sought to amend the bill regarding stockyards and packers, but was similarly blocked by the chair.
The farm bill's path forward remains uncertain. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has not yet scheduled floor time, and Democrats have signaled they will continue to press for changes to the SNAP provision. The bill's fate may also be tied to broader legislative battles, including the crowded Senate agenda that includes budget and crypto measures.
McConnell's return has also reignited debates about aging politicians, but his vote proved pivotal in advancing the farm bill. The Senate's recent move on college sports reform shows the chamber's ability to tackle complex issues, but the farm bill's future remains in doubt.
