Mobile Courant

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has voiced his opposition to the Democrats' Farm Bill framework, stating that it fails to prioritize farmers, foresters, and producers. The senator criticized the proposal for its focus on nutrition and conservation over farm programs.

"Last week, Chairwoman Stabenow released a partisan Farm Bill framework in the Senate that only includes Democrats’ priorities," Tuberville said. "The proposal does not put our farmers, foresters, and producers first—it prioritizes spending on nutrition and conservation instead of farm programs."

He further expressed concern over the absence of additional funds to strengthen the farm safety net with necessary increases in reference prices and crop insurance protections. According to Tuberville, despite claims of insufficient funds for these areas, Democrats have managed to allocate more than $20 billion towards their partisan priorities.

Tuberville also highlighted initiatives within the proposal he found problematic such as making Puerto Rican residents eligible for SNAP and linking conservation spending to climate change initiatives.

However, he appreciated the efforts of Chairman GT Thompson in the House Ag Committee for putting together a solid Farm Bill framework with essential support for southern commodities.

"While these two proposals each take a starkly different approach to Farm Bill reauthorization, I am glad that we are starting the conversation," Tuberville stated. He emphasized that food security is national security and stressed the importance of prioritizing those who work hard to feed, fuel, and clothe Americans.

Tuberville has been actively advocating for Alabama's farmers and producers throughout this process. His involvement extends from challenging burdensome regulations from Washington to promoting agricultural trade aimed at maintaining competitive balance against foreign producers.

His recent actions include joining a letter to the EPA urging an appeal against a court decision that could deprive farmers of certain dicamba-based crop protection tools used predominantly in no-till farming. He also introduced legislation aimed at collecting more information about foreign ownership of American farmland.

Tuberville has also been critical of the Biden administration's Emergency Relief Program (ERP 2022) for implementing payment limits that he believes unfairly harm producers who have suffered significant losses. He joined Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) and colleagues in expressing these concerns to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The senator's efforts extend to addressing issues facing the agriculture community such as foreign purchases of American farmland, rising input costs, and the federal Estate Tax. He has also introduced legislation aimed at eradicating feral swine, which pose a threat to public health, agriculture, and local ecosystems.

Tuberville's role as the top Republican of the AG Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy enables him to work towards expanding broadband access for rural communities, among other initiatives.