Tuesday, June 19, 2012

More Farm Bill Amendments Up for Vote in Senate This Afternoon



To Have Your Say As More Farm Amendments Go Before the Senate - Call Your Senator Now!

The Senate will continue voting on the Farm Bill this afternoon. In addition to a critical amendment by Senator Gillibrand to restore cuts made to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps), the Senate will vote on several harmful amendments that would deepen cuts to SNAP.

In addition, sustainable and equitable agriculture is also on the table. Support conservation and the next generation of American farmers. Senators Coburn and Durbin’s amendment #2439 will place long-overdue limits on crop insurance subsidies - America’s largest farm subsidy - and build on the current reforms that cap commodity payments in the farm bill.  Senator Chambliss’s amendment #2438 on conservation compliance will protect our natural resources by reattaching important on-farm conservation requirements to crop insurance, as it was until 1996. Senator Brown’s amendment #2445 will fund critical programs like the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, Value-Added Producer Grants, and the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program – these programs create jobs and foster the next generation of farmers and ranchers!

The outcome of these votes would have a significant impact on the millions of Americans who rely on nutrition programs to prevent hunger and promote nutrition as well as farmers across the country. Your advocacy is needed today! Please call your senators right now:
  • Call this toll-free hotline at 877-698-8228. Listen to the pre-recorded message and enter your zip code when prompted. 
  • You will be automatically connected to your first Senator.  Deliver this message:
    As your constituent, I urge you to protect and strengthen nutrition programs in the Farm Bill. Support the Gillibrand and Nelson amendments to strengthen SNAP and restore SNAP cuts. Please oppose the Sessions and Boozman amendments to cut SNAP.
          Please Support the Coburn and Durbin amendment to reform crop subsidies. Support 
          the Brown amendment for job creation. And please vote for our nation's lands  
          by supporting the Chambliss amendment with conservation requirements.

  • You will then be connected to your second Senator; deliver the same message.
  • Don’t forget to share this alert with your friends and family!

Thank you for all your efforts so far on the Farm Bill. Your advocacy makes a difference!
To read more about the Farm Bill, see our previous posts, A Just and Healthy Farm Bill and The Path Toward a Just and Fair Farm Bill Continues in the Senate