This week the House Appropriations Committee passed the Harris amendment which prevents the USDA from implementing the GIPSA rule. Ag groups including R-CALF, the American Farm Bureau, National Farmers Union and National Sustainable Ag Coalition all opposed that rider to the fiscal year 2017 funding bill. R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard says the rider strips protections for livestock producers.
He says the Harris amendment benefits meat packers while taking protections away from livestock producers.
Bullard says while there is solid backing to kill the amendment, it will still be a tough battle once it reaches the House floor.
The farm groups say by law appropriations bills are supposed to provide discretionary funding for federal programs in a particular fiscal year. They say the rider goes beyond its jurisdiction to overturn multiple pieces of authorizing legislation.
