President Barack Obama will visit Michigan State University today to sign the $956 billion farm bill and highlight agriculture’s importance to the economy after it received Senate approval Tuesday, the White House confirmed.
Obama is expected to see MSU agricultural research in action and deliver a speech about how agriculture creates jobs and feeds the country before signing the legislation, according to the White House. The announcement followed the Senate’s 68-32 vote Tuesday approving the farm bill.
Michigan State President Lou Anna Simon hailed the farm bill’s passage because it “not only provides strong support for new research enterprises, but it also strengthens and grows Michigan’s agriculture economy and helps sustain America’s global competitiveness.
“As the pioneer land-grant institution in America, we are honored and pleased that President Obama will be signing the farm bill on MSU’s campus.”
Obama’s visit is also expected to shine a light on Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, chairwoman of the Agricultural Committee, who was a driving force in winning agreement with House Republicans on the compromise measure — working on weekends and weeks Congress was out of session in recent months to win agreement. The president is expected to sign the legislation in a Friday afternoon ceremony at a university performance center.
Source : David Shepardson and Marisa Shultz, “Obama to sign farm bill at MSU, White House confirms”, Detroit News, February 4, 2014.
Obama Visits MSU Photo Gallery from the Lansing State Journal.