Pres Obama to Sign Farm Bill in EL

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The White House says that President Barack Obama will sign the farm bill at Michigan State University on Friday during a previously announced visit to East Lansing.

The White House first announced the trip last Friday. It confirmed Tuesday that he will sign the farm bill during the visit.

Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow chairs the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee and led the fight for congressional passage of the farm bill.

The sweeping $100-billion-a-year measure won Senate approval Tuesday on a 68-32 vote after House passage last week. The bulk of its cost is for the food stamp program, which aids 1 in 7 Americans.

The White House says Obama will give a speech on the importance of the farm bill to the U.S. economy.