The House of Representatives placed the farm bill back in the court of the Senate, voting to move towards conference. The voice vote approval paves the way for the Senate to consider similar action so the two chambers can appoint conferees to mend differences between the House and Senate versions of the farm bill. The House also passed a Democratic motion to instruct conferees to insist on 10-year permanent funding for an animal vaccine program. That motion passed the House 392 – 20. The House bill has permanent funding, but the Senate bill has only an authorization for appropriations. The motion to proceed also makes it possible for the House to appoint conferees. The Senate must also vote to proceed to conference and appoint conferees. However, when the conference committee will convene remains uncertain, before or after the August recess. The current farm bill expires September 30th.

Following the vote, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi named democrats to serve on the conference committee, including 10 Agriculture Committee members. Listed by committee, they include:

Agriculture: Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), David Scott (D-Ga.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Filemon Vela (D-Texas), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), Ann Kuster (D-N.H.), Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.)
Education and Workforce: Alma Adams (D-N.C.)
Energy and Commerce: Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.)
Financial Services: Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)
Foreign Affairs: Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.)
Natural Resources: Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.)
Oversight and Government Reform: Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.)
Science, Space and Technology: Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas)
Transportation and Infrastructure: Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.)

Republican Conferees include:

Agriculture: Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texax, Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Pa., Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., Frank Lucas, R-Okla., Mike Rogers, R-Ala., Austin Scott, R-Ga., Rick Crawford, R-Ark., Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., Rodney Davis, R-Ill., Ted Yoho, R-Fla., David Rouzer, R-N.C., Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Jodey Arrington, R-Texas
Education and the Workforce: Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., Rick Allen, R-Ga.
Energy and Commerce: John Shimkus, R-Ill., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.
Financial Services: Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, Sean Duffy, R-Wis.
Foreign Affairs: Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., Steve Chabot, R-Ohio
Natural Resources: Chairman Rob Bishop, R-Utah, Bruce Westerman, R-Ark.
Oversight and Government Reform: Mark Walker, R-N.C., James Comer, R-Ky.
Science, Space, and Technology: Ralph Abraham, R-La., Neal Dunn, R-Fla.
Transportation and Infrastructure: Jeff Denham, R-Calif., Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio