WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) -
Rep. Kristi Noem is praising the House Agriculture Committee's passage of the 2012 Farm Bill, saying it saves more than $35 billion and makes farm and nutrition programs more accountable to American taxpayers.
The South Dakota Republican voted for the bill, which passed the committee Thursday by a 35-11 margin.
Noem says it's a long way from perfect, but it will save taxpayers billions of dollars while protecting the farm and food safety net on which many South Dakotans rely.
She praised the extension of several livestock programs, the Protect our Prairies Act which encourages conservation of native sod and grassland and a program to streamline processes to combat pine beetle mitigation efforts.
The House committee vote comes three weeks after the Senate passed its version.