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Congressman Davis Has Sights On New, Long Term Farm Bill

The Federal Government may have passed a Farm Bill extension, but a new face on Capitol Hill believes that is not good enough.

Congressman Rodney Davis looks forward to the challenge of working with Federal lawmakers in Washington DC to craft a new, long term Farm Bill. Davis will be serving on the Ag Committee in Congress and he says his number one priority is a strength in crop insurance program. He says farmers are willing to give up certain things to get that, but the crop insurance program gets bottled up because of the food stamp program being a part of the Ag Committee.

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While the Farm Bill is a major focal point for Davis, there are a lot more issues the Agriculture Committee faces other than the Farm Bill. Davis explains funding for local universities and their research departments goes through the Ag Committee. He says with numerous universities and community colleges in his district, he's having to brush up on some of the things they will be discussing.

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Davis is still waiting on his sub-committee assignments for the Ag Committee to be assigned, but one piece of legislation he's already voted on in his short time in Washington DC, was a bill that temporarily extended the National Flood Insurance program to cover it's claims. Davis explains that program is essential because there are flood plains in each County in his district, and extending the program means claims of Central Illinois residents who pay into the program, will be covered in the event of a wet spring.

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Davis hopes to bring Republicans and Democrats together to get a new, long term Farm Bill passed. He feels the stalemate between the two parties has stalled progress. He feels he has a good idea of what farmers in Central Illinois are looking for in a Farm Bill and hopes to have good news for them in the future.

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