Food & Water Watch: Don't Let Congress Ruin the Farm Bill

Petition: Tell Congress that now is the time to make sure the Farm Bill gives everyone access to food that's good for us, good for farmers and good for the planet.

Courtesy: agroecologyandsustainableagriculture.org

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Of all the things that Congress has failed at lately, the Farm Bill is one of the biggest. But it's also the biggest deal for those of us who care about where our food comes from. That's why I'm asking you to contact your Members of Congress right now, and tell them to pass the best possible Farm Bill.

The Farm Bill is a massive law that makes the rules not only for farmers, but for almost all aspects of our food, affecting everything from the price of milk, to subsidies for factory farms, to food stamps for families in need. Congress was supposed to renew this bill back in 2012, but the House and Senate can't agree on what the new bill should look like. So they've extended it again, and again, and again.

But this tortured process may finally be coming to a close. Tell Congress that now is the time to make sure the Farm Bill gives everyone access to food that's good for us, good for farmers and good for the planet.

While the House and Senate both managed to pass a Farm Bill this summer, their versions of the bill are light-years apart. Now a special committee is reconciling those bills, and all of Congress needs to feel pressure from concerned citizens like you so they keep the best parts: the essential protections for farmers, organic standards and everyday people who need access to safe, healthy, affordable food.

That's what the Farm Bill is supposed to be about. It's supposed to level the playing field for family farmers, so they can compete with Big Agriculture and provide the fresh, local food that's needed. It's supposed to protect the safety of our food and the environment from abusive practices by big corporations. And it should make sure that all American families, regardless of their income level, never have to go hungry. Tell your Members of Congress what you want to see in the new Farm Bill.

The biggest risk is that the new Farm Bill might gut the food stamp program that millions of low-income Americans rely on to feed their families. But lots of other areas that we care about are at stake, too. It could damage hard-won victories like country-of-origin labeling, weaken food safety standards, remove vital rules that protect small farmers from abusive corporations, and more.

I know that you care about the food your family eats, and where it comes from. You can be sure that corporations like Monsanto are pressuring Congress to pass a Farm Bill that's friendlier to them, and extremists are fighting to get rid of food stamps. That's why your voice is so important. Let your Members of Congress know that you want a Farm Bill that protects ordinary Americans, not big corporations.

Join me in calling for a better Farm Bill:
https://secure3.convio.net/fww/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=973


Thanks for taking action,

Jo Miles
Online Engagement Strategist
Food & Water Watch
act(at)fwwatch(dot)org