Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House is taking up legislation to help drought-stricken livestock producers in one of its final acts before adjourning for the August recess.

The legislation, while unlikely to receive Senate consideration before Congress leaves at the end of the week, may deflect some complaints that Congress is ignoring both the short-term crisis facing farmers and the need to bring about long-term farming policy changes.

The House bill, scheduled to be voted on Thursday, would restore four disaster assistance programs that expired last year. They deal mainly with livestock and orchard producers.

The disaster programs would be restored for the 2012 budget year, at an estimated cost of $383 million. That would be paid for by imposing caps on two conservation programs.