As farmers across the Midwest recover from record droughts, floods and fires, it's imperative the Farm Bill focus on core farm and ranch needs.  Dr. Coburn plans to offer several amendments with this goal in mind.

Coburn Amendment 3526 - This amendment would strike the requirement in the Farm Bill for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish artisanal cheese centers.  Section 6023 of the Harkin substitute for the Farm Bill requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create “artisanal cheese centers to provide educational and technical assistance relating to the manufacture and marketing of artisanal cheese by small and medium sized producers and businesses.”  Handcrafted cheeses may add flavor to the next social event, but federal funding of artisanal cheese centers is completely unnecessary.  Click here to read more information.

Coburn Amendment 3527 - This amendment would require federal farm aid appropriated for preserving aging barns be redirected toward assisting farmers during agricultural emergencies.  While rehabilitating aging barns may be a well intentioned initiative to preserve vestiges of the past, much more urgent issues face America’s farmers.  This amendment would seek to preserve the future of America’s farmers rather than spending resources preserving aging barns.  Click here to read more information.

Coburn Amendment 3606 - This amendment would prohibit the use of federal funds for the construction of a Chinese Garden in Washington, D.C.  This amendment would permit the construction with private donations, but would prohibit federal agricultural assistance — intended to support the gardens of farmers across the country — from being spent to construct the Chinese garden in Washington.  Click here to read more information.

Coburn Amendment 3529 - This amendment would add accountability, transparency and limitations to U.S. Department of Agriculture conference expenditures.  The amendment would require USDA to prioritize its conference spending by eliminating wasteful and perhaps unnecessary travel, and taking advantage of telecommunications advances which might allow conference participation via internet or satellite.  This amendment would cap USDA’s conference spending at $15 million annually and establish a series of reporting requirements for conferences that cost over $20,000.  The amendment would result in savings of approximately $4 million annually.  Click here to read more information.

Coburn Amendment 3530 - This amendment would prohibit federal farm assistance from being paid to deceased farmers.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has paid out over a billion dollars to the estates of farmers after they had passed away.  The amendment would prohibit federal agencies from distributing agricultural subsidies to dead farmers.  The Government Accountability Office says, “The U.S. Department of Agriculture distributed $1.1 billion over seven years to the estates or companies of deceased farmers.” Click here to read more information.

Coburn Amendment 3584 – This amendment would require the Government Accountability Office to identify the number, cost and effectiveness of federal hunger and nutrition programs.  The federal government spends tens of billions of dollars every year on programs intended to address hunger, obesity and nutrition.  Despite this massive federal commitment, the United States continues to struggle with each of these related issues.  A cost effectiveness review would assist Congress and federal agencies to better target federal resources and improve outcomes for those impacted.  Click here to read more information.

Coburn Amendment 3585 - This amendment would ensure that federal agricultural assistance is not misspent on golf courses, resorts, casinos, and junkets.  The USDA has directed tens of millions of dollars in federal assistance toward unnecessary projects, such as golf courses, resorts, casinos, and junkets, that do not advance it's core mission.  This amendment will help the USDA focus on fulfilling its mission by prohibiting the funding of non-priority projects and activities related to golf courses, resorts and casinos.  Click here to read more information.