House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow released the following statement in response to ongoing negotiations regarding the farm bill extension and delivering economic assistance to America’s farmers.

“For weeks, congressional Democrats have provided a pathway to a farm bill extension that will deliver tens of billions of dollars in economic assistance and investments in farm bill programs that farmers rely on.

“Republican Leadership turned down this $10 billion proposal, rejecting needed economic assistance and increased conservation spending for decades. It is important to stress that this proposal is paid for and does not take any funding away from the critical natural disaster aid that has been requested.

“Their eleventh-hour offer fell short of what farmers need, shortchanged critical farm bill programs, and steals from critically needed assistance to address recent natural disasters. We can and should do both economic and disaster assistance, not pit one against the other.

“The coming onslaught of farm foreclosures and retirement sales is on the Republican Leadership.”