Rep. Steny Hoyer Statement on House Override of Farm Bill Veto

Vote Preserves Chesapeake Bay Funding Bush Administration Labeled as "Ill-Considered"

May 21, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) released the following statement after the U.S. House voted today to override the President's veto of the Food and Energy Security Act (H.R. 2419), which includes $438 million in conservation funding for the Chesapeake Bay. In the President's veto statement, he singled out the funding for the Bay as "ill-considered." The Senate is expected to override the veto later this evening.

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"Today, the House overwhelmingly rejected the President's misguided veto of the Farm Bill, preserving the promise of a $438 million commitment to the Chesapeake Bay and a significant investment in nutrition and alternative energy at a time when families are struggling with rising costs of food and fuel.

"In his veto statement, the President singled out the Chesapeake Bay funding as one of the reasons for his opposition, calling it an "ill-considered" provision. That he would characterize efforts to restore the Bay as such is inconceivable. Restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay is important not only to the State of Maryland, but to the entire mid-Atlantic region, and assisting farmers in reducing erosion and runoff is essential to that effort.

"The President's decision to reject the bipartisan Farm Bill is disheartening, but not surprising. This veto confirms that his only strategy is obstinance and obstruction. Democrats and Republicans from both the House and Senate worked together to craft a bill that would garner wide support, yet the President chose to ignore these efforts. While not perfect, the Farm Bill takes needed steps toward reform, offers help to Americans pinched by rising food costs, and takes us further down the path toward energy independence. In overriding the President's veto, these goals can finally be realized."

Source: Congressman Steny H. Hoyer