Gridlock in the Senate Could Result in Farm Bill Extension
Dear Agriculture,
This week we had high hopes of reporting success on the Senate farm bill, but due to procedural in-fighting over the number of amendments to include, the bill is still completely stalled.
If debate does not begin this week, the farm bill may get tabled for another two years, resulting in extension of the existing farm bill. Extension means the solid progress we’ve made in commodity reform, conservation, nutrition, renewable energy, specialty crops, and healthy and local foods will be erased. These critical programs cannot wait until 2009!
Call your Senators today and urge them to break the impasse!
Urge immediate action to move forward and begin debate on the farm bill. Then remind them to vote YES to support the following farmer-friendly, fiscally responsible, reform-minded amendments that help fund important programs. We’ve added the Salazar-Nelson Base Acres Amendment to our support list. The amendment would stop developers from cashing in on payments intended for working farmers and ranchers.
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The Dorgan-Grassley Payment Limits Amendment would reform commodity programs by limiting the excessive commodity payments that currently flow to large farm operations. Farm programs should be a safety net for farmers, not a hammock.
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The Brown-Sununu Crop Insurance Amendment would provide more funding for critical conservation and nutrition programs by reforming the excessive payments to private insurance companies.
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The Salazar-Nelson Base Acres Amendment would put an end to the "cowboy starter kits" that allow developers to cash in on federal commodity payments that are intended for farmers.
At this critical time in the debate, every call is important! Thank you for helping us keep the pressure on in the Senate.
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