Tell Congress you’re paying attention to the Food and Farm Bill!
Given that only 2% of Americans are farmers, lawmakers and lobbyists count on drafting and passing the Food and Farm Bill under the radar of most of the population. But of course the bill affects everything we all eat, so we all need to pay attention.
Let your elected officials know that you’re watching what’s happening with the Food and Farm Bill — and that you expect a fair, just bill for farmers and eaters alike!
It’s easy to make your voice heard:
- Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
- Ask to be connected to your Senator or Congressperson. (If you don’t know who it is, the switchboard can tell you)
- Ask to speak to the staffer who deals with agriculture issues.
- Tell them that you’re concerned about the Food and Farm Bill. Specifically, it’s important to you to protect:
SNAP (formerly food stamps);
conservation;
programs for beginning and minority farmers.
How will we pay for it? A recent National Farmers Union study found that we could have saved almost $100 billion from 1998 to 2010 if we had reinstated a crop reserve rather than relying on subsidy payments for farmers. With a crop reserve, the government buys extra grain in good years and releases it back into the market in leaner years. For farmers, the system includes a price floor so prices never dipped too low; for consumers, the reserve limits price gauging by food companies.
To support a crop reserve, click here!
