Special to the Journal

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R- Ga., former chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, voted for final passage of S. S. 954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013. The bill passed 66-27.

“I am pleased to support this year’s farm bill, which strikes a balance that last year’s Senate version did not,” said Chambliss. “As a former chairman and ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, I recognize how difficult it is to combine diverse interests into a single piece of legislation that meets the needs of all crops, regions, rural and urban communities. I want to thank Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran for the work they have done to craft a reform-minded bill, that not only saves $24 billion with sequestration cuts included, but also provides an effective safety net for farmers and ranchers to rely on in times of need. I am confident this bill adequately addresses the various needs and interests between commodities and regions. I urge the House to pass their bill in a timely manner, so we may go to conference before the current extension expires in September. Farmers deserve certainty, so they may plan for the future and focus on doing what they do best: producing the highest quality agricultural products in the world.”