In an 87-to-13 vote, the U.S. Senate approved legislation that allocates billions of dollars in subsidies to American farmers, legalizes hemp, bolsters farmers markets and rejects stricter limits on food stamps pushed by House Republicans.
The legislation will now head to the House, where it is also expected to pass after lawmakers worked out a House-Senate compromise this month. President Trump expressed support for the legislation on Tuesday and said he expects it will be signed into law.
A few details of the bill:
LEGALIZES HEMP. The farm bill also legalizes the production of hemp, a form of cannabis with lower THC levels than marijuana.
Industry leaders all believe that hemp will become a $20 billion industry by 2022.
Provides permanent funding for farmers markets, local food programs. The final farm bill also provides permanent funding for a number of programs that Congress had agreed to finance only on a temporary basis, of five years at a time.
The bill also provides permanent funding to help veteran farmers and farmers who are minorities.
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