All six senators from Idaho, Washington and Oregon on Thursday voted with the majority in favor of the five-year, $290 billion Farm Bill that boosts farm subsidies and money for food stamps to help the poor deal with rising grocery prices.

The bill also includes $170 million for the disaster-plagued Pacific Coast salmon fishing industry. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo spoke on the Senate floor in favor of the bill, as it would provide security for farm families, enhance food security, enable environmental improvements, and expand energy opportunities.

US Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) comments

The tax title of the legislation includes language from Crapo’s Endangered Species Recovery Act that establishes a tax deduction for the cost of actions to implement site-specific management measures included in recovery plans under the ESA.

The Senate’s 81-15 vote comes a day after the House approved the measure 318-106. The bill now heads to President Bush. Bush has threatened to veto the bill, calling it overly expensive and tilted to wealthy farmers, but both chambers have more than the two-thirds majority to override his veto.