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 Congressman Berg today attended a “Farm Bill Now” rally on the United States Capitol grounds.  Members of Congress joined with national agriculture organizations and members of the farming community to help raise public awareness of the need for Congress to pass a new, comprehensive farm bill before the current program expires on September 30^th.

“I was proud to stand with our nation’s ag community to tell House leadership that the time for a farm bill is now,” stated Berg.  “Right now our farmers and ranchers are in the field doing their job, and House Leadership needs to do theirs.  Farmers and ranchers deserve the peace of mind a long-term farm bill will bring.  I will continue exhausting every possible option on behalf of North Dakota farmers and ranchers to get the farm bill to the floor for a vote.”

Just last night, Berg was once again singled out by Politico regarding his efforts to rally support within the GOP to get a farm bill passed.  Politico reported that on Monday, Berg “helped to trigger the whips’ discussion [and] grayer heads—and traditional team players— backed him up including Reps. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Randy Neugebauer (R-Tex.), as well as House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.).”

Berg has been vocal in his efforts to get a House farm bill complete.  He stood alone to call on House Leadership to bring the Farm bill to the floor for a vote.  Just two days later, he was joined by 61 of his House colleagues to echo his previous calls to bring up the measure for consideration.

“Now is the time for the house to act,” stated Berg on the floor of the House of Representatives.  “For farmers and ranchers across this country, now is the time to ensure that we act on this important piece of legislation and get it reauthorized long term.  The time for the farm bill is now.”

Politico, reported on that speech stating, “As if to remind him, Rep. Rick Berg (R-N.D.), a Boehner favorite now running for the Senate, took to the floor Thursday just minutes after the speaker had again ducked Farm bill questions at his weekly news conference.”

The current farm bill expires on September 30, 2012.  The House is scheduled be in session through September 21, 2012.

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