Table of Contents
Gridlock in the Senate
Dorgan-Grassley and other Amendments
Veto Threat
Make Your Voice Heard - Action Alerts
Become a CFSC Member!
Gridlock in the Senate
Senate Leaders Working on a Compromise
The Farm Bill began on the floor of the Senate this
week, but debate never really got off the ground due to partisan bickering over
the procedure for offering amendments. Majority Leader Reid (D-NV),
citing time constraints due to the approaching holiday season and an otherwise
full agenda, proposed limiting the debate to amendments that are directly
relevant to the Farm Bill. Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) and other
Republicans are worried that certain amendments they support would be excluded,
such as the potential reform or removal of the estate tax which, if passed,
could do significant harm to small and beginning farmers by driving up the cost
of land.
A Reid spokesperson said Wednesday that the Majority
Leader is trying to negotiate a list of allowed amendments with Sen. McConnell,
to include five or six from each side. Reports from Farm Policy, Nov. 8th
say that Reid might try to force action by filing for a vote that would end
debate and move directly to consideration of the Dorgan-Grassley amendment. To
do this, Reid would need support from 60 out of the 100 Senators. We will
keep you updated as this process develops.
Amendment Developments
As we reported in last week's update,
the Dorgan-Grassley amendment places limits on farm payments, saving $1.15
billion over 5 years and reinvesting that money in conservation, rural
development, and nutrition programs. CFSC learned last week that $50 million of
this savings could be used to fund Community Food Projects from 2012-2017,
making the future of this important program much more secure.
Since a vote could come as early as
Tuesday of this week, it is still important to call your Senators and ask them
to vote FOR the Dorgan-Grassley amendment. You can call
the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121 to be connected to your Senators'
offices.
83 Amendments and Counting
On Friday, Chairman Harkin released a list of amendments
that had been submitted by 5:00 pm on Thursday. Notably absent is the
Lugar-Lautenberg amendment, which limits direct payments and adds funds to the
food stamp program, though a Lugar aide said that an agreement for its
consideration is being reached. The 83+ amendments were reportedly released by
Sen. Harkin on Friday, though we do not currently see them on the Agriculture Committee website.
Keep watching the committee website, as they may post them again. (Congress
Daily, Nov. 9th)
Possible Biofuel Amendment
Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Pete
Domenici (R-NM) wants to offer an amendment that would raise the renewable
fuels standard, requiring refiners to produce 36 billion gallons of renewable
fuels - mostly corn-based ethanol - by 2022. Reid has said that he will not
offer it on the floor because such provisions belong in the energy bill, but
some speculate that he will end up allowing it. The bill has bipartisan
support, and Senator Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, has
said that he considers energy issues to be integrally connected to farm and
food policy (Congress Daily, Nov. 8th).
Food Safety Standards
An amendment sponsored by Senator Feinstein (D-CA) seeks
to implement uniform food safety growing standards in response to past E. coli
outbreaks among bagged leafy greens. The Community Alliance with Family Farmers
and other groups are worried about the heavy use of pesticides advocated in the
standards and fear that small scale, traditional family vegetable growing
operations will be hurt.
Administration Issues Veto Threat
Though debate on the Farm Bill has not truly begun in the
Senate, the Bush administration issued a veto threat on Monday, Nov. 5. The
administration and Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner claim to oppose
the bill in part because of the ways it is funded, and also because they want
to see stricter payment limitations and less spending overall. However, Senator
Grassley (R-IA) wagers that The Senate is likely to approve its $288 billion
farm bill with more than enough votes to overcome a presidential veto (Des Moines Register,
Nov. 6th).
Make Your Voice Heard!
Action Alerts from Our Allies
Lower the EQIP Limit
The National Family Farm Coalition is working to promote the $240,000 limit on
Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) grants. A lower limit means that
there would be more grants available, and it would target small and
medium-sized farms. The $240,000 limit was removed from Chairman Harkins bill
by the Committee, but could still be restored by an amendment on the floor. Let your Senators know you support lowering the EQIP payment
limit.
Act to Support Small Farms
The Community Alliance with Family Farms has more
information about the food safety amendment here and an action alert.
Dorgan-Grassley and the Livestock
Title
See the Sustainable Agriculture Coalitions two action
alerts here and here.
Raise Funding for Food Stamps and TEFAP
Calls needed to improve Food Stamps & The Emergency Food Assistance Program
(TEFAP). Click here to
support our friends at the Food Research and Action Center.
Voice Your Support for Reform
The Center for Rural Affairs
has a page for grassroots action items that allow you to contact Senator Reid
or contact your own Senators to support real payment limit reform
and rural development.
Community Food Security Coalition
110 Maryland Ave. NE Suite 307
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202.543.8602
www.FoodSecurity.org
Vicki Morrone
Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist
Michigan State University
C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems
303 Natural Resources Bldg.
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-3542
517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3834 (fax)
For information on organic
agriculture production please visit:
http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/
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