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Rep. Noem Signs Discharge Petition

Kealey Bultena

In just more than two weeks, the current Farm Bill expires. The legislation encompasses crop producer provisions along with food and nutrition program adjustments. The Senate passed a version of the Farm Bill, but House leadership hasn’t schedule a vote due to concerns it won’t succeed. South Dakota’s representative says she’s imploring colleagues to support the farm bill.

U.S. Congresswoman Kristi Noem has signed a discharge petition, paperwork that bypasses leadership and forces the farm bill to a vote in the House of Representatives. The petition requires a majority’s support to secure a vote. Noem says farmers need reassurance that Congress is committed to passing the farm bill, knowing it expires at the end of the month.

"It’s not that we haven’t gone past that date in the past, but we don’t like it, and I believe we should get our job done on time," Noem says. "So it would be difficult, but if we could get it off the floor and into conference before September 30, that gives us a lot more certainty than we have today."

The Congresswoman’s challenger in November’s election, Democrat Matt Varilek, says the farm bill situation indicates Noem isn’t effective in Washington. Representative Noem says she’s working closely with leadership to discern how the House can drum up enough support for the farm bill.

Kealey Bultena grew up in South Dakota, where her grandparents took advantage of the state’s agriculture at nap time, tricking her into car rides to “go see cows.” Rarely did she stay awake long enough to see the livestock, but now she writes stories about the animals – and the legislature and education and much more. Kealey worked in television for four years while attending the University of South Dakota. She started interning with South Dakota Public Broadcasting in September 2010 and accepted a position with television in 2011. Now Kealey is the radio news producer stationed in Sioux Falls. As a multi-media journalist, Kealey prides herself on the diversity of the stories she tells and the impact her work has on people across the state. Kealey is always searching for new ideas. Let her know of a great story! Find her on Facebook and twitter (@KealeySDPB).