Overview
- The committee rejected the 983‑page farm bill in a 10-11 party‑line vote after proxy votes from absent Republicans did not count, leaving the measure from moving to the Senate floor.
- Sen. Mitch McConnell was on medical leave and cast proxy votes during the markup but those proxies could not be decisive under Congressional Research Service guidance.
- Democrats opposed the bill over a Republican plan to make states share more of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program costs and sought a two‑year delay while Republicans offered one year.
- A key energy provision to allow year‑round sales of E15 gasoline and other substantive changes will be postponed until the committee reconvenes, with Chairman John Boozman saying he expects another vote in September.
- The failed vote heightens pressure from the short congressional calendar before the election and could force separate floor fights on SNAP and E15; coverage varies with some outlets blaming McConnell’s absence and others emphasizing the policy dispute.