Congressman Comer Selected for Influential Farm Bill Conference Committee

First Kentucky House Farm Bill Negotiator in Decades

July 18, 2018

Washington, DC – Congressman James Comer (KY-01) has been selected to serve on the conference committee tasked with negotiating a final version of the Farm Bill. While the House of Representatives and the Senate both passed a Farm Bill in late June, there are several key differences between the two versions that must be resolved before a final Farm Bill can be signed into law, providing Kentucky farmers the long-term certainty and security they need.

Through his position on the conference committee, Congressman Comer will play an important role in shaping America’s agriculture and nutrition policy. He will be the first Kentucky Representative to sit on a Farm Bill conference committee in nearly three decades, when Representatives Carroll Hubbard and Larry J. Hopkins served as negotiators for the 1990 Farm Bill.

“The Farm Bill will be the most impactful legislation signed into law this year,” Comer said. “I’m proud of my role representing Kentucky agriculture and enthusiastic to get to work ironing out a final Farm Bill with my colleagues that will give our farmers confidence the federal government has their back.”

During his first years in Washington, Congressman Comer has been a strong voice for Kentucky’s agriculture community, advancing discussions to legalize industrial hemp, advocating for food stamp reforms that incentivize work, and now lending his expertise to shape the next five years of American farm policy in this conference committee.

“Today, we move one step closer to delivering a strong, new farm bill to the president’s desk on time as he has called on Congress to do. America's farmers and rural America are struggling right now and they deserve the certainty of a strong farm bill to see them through to better times. The House has pulled together a solid team of conferees – including Rep. Comer. I’m looking forward to working with Jamie, who has been a strong voice for agriculture through this process, and the rest of our House and Senate colleagues to reach a final product that helps millions of low-income Americans climb the economic ladder, while standing by our nation’s hard-working farm families,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11).

“Speaker Ryan couldn’t have made a better choice to serve on the Farm Bill conference committee than Congressman Comer. He is a lifelong farmer who understands just how important the Farm Bill is for rural America. We are grateful to have Congressman Comer representing all Kentucky farm families on the conference committee and appreciate his leadership on this crucial piece of federal legislation,” said Richard Heath, Chair of the Kentucky House Agriculture Committee and Mayfield resident.