WASHINGTON — The US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry moved quickly through mark-up to pass the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, enjoyed bipartisan support from committee members. The bill now moves to the full Senate for a vote sometime in the future. In addition to making changes aimed at improving crop insurance, curbing food-stamp abuse and eliminating direct payments, the bill is designed to save taxpayers $23 billion.

In Stabenow’s summary of the farm bill, she emphasized that the legislation will: eliminate direct payments, streamline programs, improve accountability and help the domestic agricultural economy and create jobs.