The House Agriculture Committee will delay farm bill action until February after the unexpected death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R–Calif., and the hospitalization of Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind.
Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., had said before the recess that the committee would mark up the farm bill in January. But on Tuesday he said that plan needed to change because the GOP would be short two members on the panel.
“Well, unfortunately, we now have a vacancy on the committee with Mr. LaMalfa, his death today,” Thompson said Tuesday, adding that Baird’s hospitalization added additional uncertainty.
LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer from Northern California known for his focus on agriculture and forestry policies, died Tuesday at age 65.
Baird was injured in a car crash, and his office said in a statement on social media that he “is expected to make a full recovery, and he is extraordinarily grateful for everyone’s prayers during this time.” His son Brian posted on Facebook that Baird was released from the hospital late Tuesday, and his wife is still hospitalized but expected to make a full recovery.
Thompson said he doesn’t plan to move immediately to fill LaMalfa’s spot on the panel or appoint a new chairman of the Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee.
“Probably after this week,” he said. “Out of honor for Doug. He’s a good member, great subcommittee chair, and a close friend.”
The committee is also waiting on cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, Thompson said.
“Before the holidays, we put in the last request of what we needed for Congressional Budget Office scores. So the goal is to get all that accomplished in January,” Thompson said.
The bill’s text will be released the week of the markup. Thompson said that he expects the farm bill — including portions enacted via reconciliation also known as “farm bill 1.0” and the yet to be released “farm bill 2.0” — to cost around $1.3 trillion to $1.4 trillion over 10 years.
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