Disappointing but not surprising. This was an amazing effort by all. Never before has such a diverse group come together to support reform that would benefit family farmers here at home and abroad.
Thanks for all the calls, letters, meetings, statements and releases. This was never going to be easy but we made major strides toward reform. The House took the first step, now it is up to the Senate to capitalize on the momentum that has been built.
Farm Bill — The House is debating the rule to consider the Farm Bill now. The Fairness Amendment will be the first amendment considered after the rule is passed.
News on other ONE priorties:
GROWTH Act — Senator Hutchison has agreed to co-sponsor the GROWTH Act bill with Senator Durbin. One of our super volunteers, hand delivered 4,672 letters from ONE members asking Sen. Hutchison to be the lead cosponsor of the bill!
Global Poverty Act – is scheduled for markup on Tuesday, July 31st — We have been working to build committee support for this bill so that it will pass through committee unopposed.
-Erin Erlenborn, ONE Government Relations Director
You can watch on your TV or live online on C-Span.
The Fairness Amendment will be up first when the Farm Bill is on the floor this afternoon!
We only have one shot – so encourage everyone to make calls! (800) 786-2663
We especially need ONE members from California, Florida, New York, Michigan to call their representatives.
More when we have it.
-Erin Erlenborn, ONE’s Director of Government Relations
Those of us watching the House Agriculture Committee deliberations on the 2007 Farm Bill last week were privy to an elaborate show of smoke and mirrors. What was billed as reform was actually the opposite. Although we didn’t really think it was possible, the new Farm Bill proposed by the House Agriculture Committee actually takes our food and farm policy from bad to worse!
The proposed Farm Bill continues massive taxpayer support to the biggest and richest farmers, while doing little for small farmers, minority producers, anti-hunger programs, or the environment. It also continues to encourage overproduction and dumping of agriculture surpluses, such as cotton, on developing country farmers who are struggling to lift themselves out of poverty. THIS IS NOT REFORM. In fact, the Committee has sold out American family farmers to the highest bidder and left struggling farmers in poor countries in the dust.
Call me naïve, but I still have some hope that the House of Representatives is going to do the right thing and vote for a reformed Farm Bill on Thursday. In fact, a bipartisan amendment will be introduced to shift funds from trade-distorting subsidies to other priorities, such as food stamps, conservation, and programs that help minority and socially disadvantaged farmers. If approved, it will help us take important first steps on a new course toward real reform of family farm and food policy.
Together with a diverse group of allies, we’re calling on every member of the House of Representatives to vote yes on the “Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment,” which will shift funds from trade-distorting subsidies to other domestic priorities and it will help poor farmers abroad too!
Join us and call on your Representative to vote in support of a reformed Farm Bill!!!
-Laura Rusu, press officer, Oxfam America, and ONE member.
