Rep. Peters Intro’s Bill to Increase Transparency on Members of Congress, Cabinet Secretaries

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late yesterday, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) introduced H.R. 5634, “Stop Hiding Congressional Farm Subsidies Act,” legislation which would require public disclosure of crop insurance premium subsidies received by Members of Congress, Cabinet Secretaries, their immediate families, and entities of which they are majority shareholders.

“Our government works for the people; San Diegans deserve a transparent and accountable government. This bill is about making government more accountable to the American people and increasing the transparency in the legislative and executive branches,” Rep. Peters said. “Just as Members of Congress are required to disclose stock transactions, this will increase transparency and give Americans better information on how specific Congressional actions, including votes on legislation, impact individual Members of Congress.

Currently, a listing of individuals and entities receiving crop insurance premium subsidies is not open to public viewing and is only available through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The 2014 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARM Bill) initially included a provision that would have made crop insurance subsidies open to public disclosure, but it was quietly removed during closed-door negotiations. Congressman Peters voted against the FARM Bill in part because it failed to adequately reform the crop insurance premium support process.

Text of the “Stop Hiding Congressional Farm Subsidies Act” can be read here.

Further background on the “Stop Hiding Congressional Farm Subsidies Act” can be read here.

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