Maloney Opposes Farm Bill after Tea Party adds 11th Hour Amendments

Washington, D.C - Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) today voted against the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013 after the inclusion of last-minute draconian Tea Party amendments. The Farm Bill failed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 195-234. The Senate passed a similar bill without the Tea Party provisions by a vote of 64-35. 

“Tea Party Republicans are playing partisan games with a Farm Bill that so many Hudson Valley families, small businesses and farmers desperately need. I have proudly worked with moderate Republican colleagues to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill, but the inclusion of 11th hour provisions solely intended to hurt our most vulnerable neighbors poison this good faith effort,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “It is outrageous that Tea Party extremism has once again killed commonsense, bipartisan support for the hardworking farmers who create thousands of jobs, strengthen our communities, and bring hundreds of millions back to the Hudson Valley.”

Following votes, Rep. Maloney immediately spoke on the House Floor to oppose these destructive efforts to stop progress on this important bill.

Before the extremist Tea Party provisions were added, Representative Maloney supported the Farm Bill, which passed the House Committee on Agriculture with a bipartisan vote of 36-10.