NSAC's Blog
Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act Introduced in Congress
November 1, 2011
On Tuesday, November 1 Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) and 35 original co-sponsors introduced the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act (S. 1773, H.R. 3286), a comprehensive bill intended for inclusion in the 2012 Farm Bill.
As the Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership work to finalize their farm bill proposal for the Super Committee this week, NSAC and its allies will advocate for inclusion of the policy provisions in the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act into the farm bill.
On Thursday, November 3, NSAC and other farm and food organizations will host a Washington, D.C. fly-in for 50 farmers, ranchers, and other local and regional food advocates to voice support for the Local, Farms, Food, and Jobs Act.
The legislation helps farmers and ranchers by addressing production, aggregation, processing, marketing, and distribution needs to access growing local and regional food markets. The bill also assists consumers by improving access to healthy food. The measure provides secure farm bill funding for critically important programs that support family farms, expand new farming opportunities, create rural jobs, and invest in the local food and agriculture economy.
Co-sponsors of the bill at the time of introduction were Sens. Robert P. Casey (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), and Jon Tester (D-MT).
House co-sponsors include U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), David Cicilline (D-RI-1), Joe Courtney (D-CT-2), Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), Keith Ellison (D-MN-5), Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ-7), Janice Hahn (D-CA-36), Brian Higgins (D-NY-27), Rush Holt (D-NJ-12), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9), Ron Kind (D-WI-3), Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH-10), Barbara Lee (D-CA-9), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM-3), Ed Markey (D-MA-7), Jim McGovern (D-MA-3), Mike Michaud (D-ME-20), Gwen Moore (D-WI-4), Jim Moran (D-VA-8), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-8), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-at large), John W. Olver (D-MA-1), Laura Richardson (D-CA-37), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP) Northern Mariana Islands, Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), Peter Welch (D-VT-at large), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA-6).
Both the Senate and House bills are open for additional co-sponsors at any time.
Both Senator Brown and Representative Pingree issued press statements.
For more information on the bill and to take action, visit NSAC’s local food bill webpage.
For more information on a related bill backed by NSAC to gear the farm bill toward support for beginning farmers, go to our beginning farmer bill webpage.
Categories: Farm Bill, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Nutrition & Food Access, Organic
How is it possible that not one Republican is in favor of this. I know things are divided in washington, but there must be some republicans who could get on board with this. seriously now!!
[…] Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act Introduced in Congress National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition […]
[…] Let’s hear it for Democrats Chellie Pingree and Sherrod Brown, who last week introduced the Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act as part of the 2012 Farm Bill. The Act will increase funding to small farmers pursuing national […]
Congratulations on your acknowledgement of the plight of the small American farmer. They have always been the backbone of a healthy population. The farther we stray from locally grown foods the more risk we carry for toxins as well as potential disruption of food supply.
[…] Our Options: The Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act is one attractive option on the table, and is backed by the Organic Consumers Association, the […]
S-1773 & H.R.3286 are commendable and need eveyone’s support! But what is your take on H.R. 3225 which targets the availability of healthy food localy…especially the inner cities by its support of Farmer’s Markets.
[…] On Tuesday November 1st, Congresswomen Chellie Pingree, with Senator Sherrod Brown, submitted the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act (LFFJA) – S. 1773 and H.R. 3286, as part of the 2012 update to the Farm Bill, a major piece of legislation […]