Make your voice heard by clicking here as proposed
amendments to the Farm Bill go before the Senate for a vote.
The Senate
is currently considering a number of amendments to the Farm Bill that affect
not only farmers, but people across the country, the world, and the conservation
of our nation’s lands as well. We must act quickly to share with the Senate our
vision for a Farm Bill that puts the needs of the hungry before the profits of
select businesses.
We remember
these words from Nehemiah 9:6: “You are the Lord, you alone; you have made . .
. the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. To all of
them you give life . . .”
With the
words of the prophet in mind, we affirm the life of this earth and all who live
in it. We raise our voice to speak up concerning the following amendments to
the Farm Bill. It is not yet clear which of the proposed amendments will
receive a vote on the Senate floor, but please make sure to tell your Senator
that the following amendments are important to you.
Tell your
Senator you SUPPORT Farm Bill
amendments that:
·
- Restores funding to SNAP, funds the Fresh Fruit
and Vegetable Snack Program for hungry children, and reduces subsidies for crop
insurance. Sen. Gillibrand of New York has put forth this amendment.
·
- Limits consolidation in the meat industry, as
proposed by Sen. Grassley from Iowa.
·
- Reforms crop insurance subsidies so that the
largest farms do not receive federal subsidies for insurance that they can
afford. Sen. Coburn from Oklahoma lifts this up in his amendment.
·
- Funds rural development while increasing funding
for Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers, as proposed by
Sen. Brown of Ohio and Sen. Nelson of Nebraska.
·
- Makes conservation compliance a requirement for
farmers with crop insurance. Sen. Lautenberg from New Jersey has brought this
amendment.
·
- Increases funding for Socially Disadvantaged and
Veteran Farmers, as proposed by Sen. Udall of New Mexico.
To protect
our farms and farmers, and those who rely up on them, these next amendments
must be DEFEATED
in the upcoming days. These amendments:
·
- Limit the categorical eligibility for SNAP, so
people who are eligible for SNAP cannot automatically enrolled be in the
program, causing them a delay in their benefits, proposed by Sen. Sessions of
Alabama.
·
- Deny SNAP benefits to eligible citizens if
anyone else living in their household cannot produce proper proof of
documentation, also proposed by Sen. Sessions.
·
- Cap SNAP spending at FY2010 levels and make it
part of a block grant. Sen. Graham of South Carolina puts forth this amendment.
·
- Veer the bill off the topic of fair farming by requesting
an investigation of the effect of the looming sequester (automatic budget cuts)
on the nation’s military, which Sen. McCain of Arizona has filed.
Now is the
time to send the message that farm policies need to be founded on principles of
justice and fairness. Continue the witness that you have shown on behalf of the
Farm Bill and the people it represents. Tell Congress that you take seriously the care of God’s creation and God’s people.
Thank you
for your advocacy on the Farm Bill already. Your work makes a difference!
Yesterday, shortly after you received our Action Alert, the Senate voted 65 to
33 to table Sen. Paul’s amendment to put SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program) into a block grant, where it would have been underfunded and unable to
respond to the rising needs of hungry families. Thank you for your efforts, and
congratulations on keeping SNAP from shrinking!
