NSAC's Blog
A better food and farm future, starting now
June 18, 2013
Dear Supporter,
When you think about the future of food, what do you want to see? If you’re like us, you want to see thriving family farms across the countryside and your choice of fresh, healthy, affordable food in your community.
Unfortunately, the House of Representatives is poised to take a giant step backwards this week – away from the kind of future we want for our food and farms and toward unlimited subsidies for mega-farms and corporate agri-business and reduced investments in sustainable farming.
The American people didn’t ask for this – we expect better. Help us tell Congress today.
With your help last month we made some big progress in getting farm policy back on track in the Senate and now it’s time to ensure the House of Representatives does the same. An amendment with common-sense, long-overdue farm subsidy reforms is on the table right now – as is an amendment to support local and regional food and farm efforts.
This is our chance to reform unlimited subsidies and invest in a better future today!
Here’s what you need to know: on the reform front, Rep. Fortenberry’s (R-NE) amendment #93 puts a cap on commodity subsidy payments and closes loopholes that allow mega-farms to collect unlimited payments. As for that better future, Rep. Pingree’s (D-ME) amendment #176 (with Reps. Fortenberry (R-NE), Gibson (R-NY), and McIntyre (D-NC)) costs nothing and would improve policies to spur small business development and create jobs in rural America by strengthening existing credit, rural development, and research and extension programs that support local food efforts.
This week, with these amendments, we may finally have a shot at getting a better farm bill in the House of Representatives – one that supports fresh, healthy food and ensures real reform to corporate and mega-farm subsidies.
The House will start voting tonight – make a call today!
Calling is easy – Just call (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected with your Representative’s office. Once you’re connected to your Representative’s office, leave a message like this one below with the person who answers the phone (if your Representative is already an amendment sponsor, make your call a thank you call!):
“Hello, my name is ___ and I’m a constituent and a voter (and tell ‘em if you’re a farmer!). I would like to leave a message for Representative ___’s agriculture staffer. Can you take a message for me, please? The message is: I urge the Representative to support two key amendments during farm bill floor debate this week: Fortenberry #93 for subsidy reform and Pingree #176 for local food and economic development. Congress needs to get our farm policy back on track by reforming subsidies and investing in a more sustainable future. Thank you.”
We’re making great progress thanks to you – every call makes a difference!
Thanks for all you do,
Sarah and Shavaun, NSAC’s Grassroots Team
P.S. When you call, tell us how it went!
Categories: Action Alerts, General Interest