Let our WA Senators know what issues are important to you in this critical piece of legislation!
Debate has begun on the Senate’s Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240), otherwise known as the Farm Bill. The Bill includes some steps to scale up cultivation and distribution of healthy foods, but it doesn’t go far enough. We need a Farm Bill that addresses the critical challenges facing all of us today, and that means we need to invest in healthy and fair food that’s good for people and the planet. We need to urge our Senators to support equitable, fiscally responsible amendments to the Farm Bill that will enhance public health and the environment while supporting farmers.
Call Now!
Senator Maria Cantwell: 202-224-3441 (Ask for Agriculture Aide Paul Wolfe)
Senator Patty Murray: 202-224-2621 (Ask for Agriculture Aide Adam Goodwin)
BROWN. This amendment will restore funding for beginning farmer training and value-added producer grants.
COBURN-DURBIN. This amendment will limit crop insurance subsidies to the wealthiest farmers.
MERKLEY. This amendment will address barriers to make crop insurance more accessible to organic farmers.
CARDIN. This amendment will reattach conservation requirements to crop insurance.
TESTER. This amendment will set aside 5% of annual funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative for public cultivar and breed development (as opposed to GMO research).
GRASSLEY-CONRAD. This amendment will make it unlawful for a meatpacker to own livestock for more than 14 days before slaughter. This will reduce vertical integration of the livestock market and help independent and family growers compete.
GILLIBRAND. This amendment will restore the $4.5 billion cut from the food stamp program in the draft bill. (Patty Murray has signed on as a co-sponsor! Thank you, Patty!)
Let us know how your call goes! Contact Policy Intern Ariana () to share the response you get from the senators’ offices.