The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have named conferees as the Farm Bill moves to conference. After swift bipartisan passage by the Senate, House and Senate conference committee members must reconcile differences between the two passed versions of legislation that would reauthorize programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Senate legislation contains a provision that NGWA partnered with the Rural Community Assistance Partnership to boost support for wells and well systems. If included in the final Farm Bill, support for wells and well systems would be expanded to also include septic systems and treatment for contaminated groundwater. The program would expand from $10 million to $40 million.
Differences between the House and Senate are significant, and the conferees will be under a tight deadline to pass a bill by the end of September. Without an agreement, Congress may extend current Farm Bill authorizations, while the conference continues.