Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today released the following statement regarding House passage of H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013. The bill passed with a final vote of 216-208.

"The certainty a farm bill provides to Idaho's farmers and rural communities is critical to the economy of our state," said Simpson. "I am encouraged by today's developments and hopeful that Congress has taken a step toward more certainty for farmers and greater savings for taxpayers. I hope the House and Senate can reconcile their two versions quickly and put a new farm bill place in the next few weeks."