URGENT ACTION! For a Fair Farm (and Food) Bill

On Thursday, July 19th, the House Agriculture Committee passed a new Farm Bill for the United States. This new bill continues to perpetuate many of the inequalities of the 2002 Farm Bill, and still needs to address many issues before it can be voted on by the House of Representatives, most likely before the end of the month.

NOW IS THE TIME to contact your local Representative, to let them know that WE NEED A FAIRER FARM AND FOOD BILL!

Some details of the current Farm Bill:
• Maintains harmful “commodity programs that have had devastating effects on rural communities and small farms in the U.S. and abroad, as well as on the health and sustainability of the food system as a whole.” (California Food and Justice Coalition)
• Cuts funding for the Conservation Security Program, which provides financial assistance to farmers who follow conservation practices, and prevents new signups for the CSP for the next 4 years. (Center for Food Safety)
• Adds a paltry $350 million to the USDA after-school snack program in public schools, keeping kids and parents in a constant battle with junk food and obesity. (Environmental Working Group)
• Doesn’t ensure funding for tried-and-true programs such as the Community Food Project Grant Program, which helps low-income communities access healthy food. (California Coalition for Food and Farming)
• Prohibits the USDA from discouraging the use of certain high-risk pesticides, contaminating vital resources. (Pesticide Action Network North America)

HOW TO CONTACT REPRESENTATIVES
(Phone calls are more effective than emails)

On the House Agriculture Committee:
• Chairman, Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN): (202) 225-2165
• Ranking Minority Member, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA): (202) 225-5431
Contact Information for other Committee Members available at
http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/members.html

To contact House Speaker, Rep. Nancy Pelosi:
• If you are in her district:
o sf.nancy@mail.house.gov (Include full name, address, zipcode)
o (415) 556-4862
• Otherwise: (202) 225-4965

To find your local Representative:
http://www.house.gov