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Congress is gearing up to override an expected presidential veto of the five-year farm bill as soon as this afternoon.
The farm bill officially hit President Bush's desk yesterday, and White House officials said he plans to veto the bill today. Bush has been critical of the bill throughout the process, saying he would reject it because of its spending levels and farm subsidies.
But the bill had overwhelming support in the House and Senate last week, indicating each chamber has comfortable margins to outweigh the White House.
After months of delay, the bill could become law as soon as this evening. The House is planning to move on its veto override as soon as this afternoon. Senate aides said they would move on the veto override as soon as the bill is available.
The latest extension of current farm programs expires Friday.
The $289 billion measure would oversee crop supports, conservation programs, nutrition assistance and an array of new energy and cellulosic ethanol support programs over the next five years.
Beyond its farm and food programs, the bill is packed with other perks, including a bailout for the West Coast salmon industry, tax breaks for timber companies and cellulosic ethanol blenders, and voluntary endangered species conservation.
The legislation includes millions of dollars in new investment for organic agriculture, money for Chesapeake Bay conservation, a water quality enhancement program aimed at the Sacramento River and language to open farm bill conservation programs to habitat protection for bees and other pollinators.
The conference report would increase spending for conservation programs by $4 billion and give more than $10 billion extra to nutrition programs such as food stamps and food banks.
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