•  Washington, D.C. - Rep. Kristi Noem today made the following statement regarding the House's failure to pass the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (Farm Bill):
•  "A majority of the House of Representatives today failed to do the right thing for producers and consumers across the country. I am incredibly disappointed that while we were able to pass this bill out of the Agriculture Committee with strong bipartisan support, members today were unable to put their own politics aside to do what's best for the American people.
• "Both Republicans and Democrats share blame for today's outcome.  While a majority of Republicans voted for the bill, there were too many that walked away because it didn't cut enough, or because it wasn't perfect enough in some way. And despite the strong bipartisan support this Farm Bill received a few weeks ago in the Agriculture Committee, only 24 Democrats voted for the bill today, largely because the less than three percent cut in food stamps was too much.
• "I'm committed to passing this Farm Bill and remain hopeful we will be able to regroup in the coming days and figure out a way to bring a bipartisan majority of the House together in support of this bill."
• Today's vote was 195-234, with Noem voting in favor of the bill.  A majority of 218 was needed for passage.  171 Republicans and 24 Democrats voted for the bill.
•

HURON -- South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass the 2013 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act by a vote of 195-234.
• "It is a sad day in rural American," commented SDFU President Doug Sombke. "The House of Representatives, the people's house, has failed to pass one of the most important pieces of legislation for our rural communities, the farm bill. While the bill was not perfect, it included important reforms in agricultural policy and would have moved Congress forward in passing a final five-year farm bill before sending it to President Obama for his signature."
• South Dakota's lone representative was one of the 195 who supported the Farm Bill. Sombke said Representative Noem supported South Dakota today with her vote on the farm bill.