Scalise Says House Farm Bill on Track for Another Vote

Louisiana 1st District Congressman and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise

It is taking a lot of behind-the-scenes work, but the House version of the 2018 Farm Bill will get a second chance soon on the House floor.

Louisiana Congressman and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise told The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network that he has been working diligently to address the immigration concerns that derailed the Farm Bill vote last month.

"We've been in a lot of meetings with the members on the immigration issue," Scalise said. "I feel confident once we solve this immigration difference within our party, we'll have the votes to pass this really good Farm Bill."

Thirty members of the Republican Freedom Caucus voted against the Farm Bill when it was brought to a House floor vote on May 18th, using that vote to draw attention to the immigration reform issue. 

Scalise had set a target date of June 22nd to have a second vote on the Farm Bill, but he said that date is not set in stone.

"I don't know that it will be exactly June 22nd, but it will be sometime within that time frame," he said. "We want to get it done before we break for the August recess."