Urgent: This Thursday, the House of Representatives will vote to reauthorize our country’s farm bill, a critical piece of legislation that touches everyone in this country – especially those who struggle to have enough to eat.
This year we have the opportunity to reform the farm bill to better serve those who need help most: farmers who struggle to get by, rural communities - where 20 percent of children live in poverty, hungry families in both urban and rural areas and struggling farmers in developing countries.
Unfortunately, last week the House Agriculture Committee approved a farm bill that maintains the status quo and does not do enough to serve those who need help most. This week, the farm bill moved to the floor of the House of Representatives, where all members of Congress will have the opportunity to weigh in on U.S. farm policy.
Your member of Congress needs to hear from you that changes approved by the House Agriculture Committee are not enough to help struggling farmers or hungry people here or around the world. We can and must do better!
By supporting the Fairness Amendment, we can ensure that the farm bill would:
- Make sure hungry families in the U.S. receive the food assistance they need.
- Help generate new jobs and strengthen small businesses in rural communities.
- Provide more equitable financial support to farm families of modest means.
- Level the playing field for poor farmers overseas.
- Operate food aid programs that work quickly and efficiently in international emergencies.
It is time to vote for a stronger and more just farm bill. Let Congress know you support the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment.
Dear Representative:
The House Agriculture Committee last week approved a farm bill that makes minimal changes to the inequity of current farm policy. The committee missed its opportunity to design a safety net that works better for American farmers and to bring the farm bill more in line with realties of rural poverty. When the farm bill comes to the floor this week, I urge you to support the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment to ensure that real improvements are made.
The Fairness Amendment addresses many concerns left behind by the committee's bill. It provides critical funding to strengthen nutrition programs, rural communities, and conservation programs, without relying on uncertain funding from outside of the committee. The Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment is critical to farmers of modest means, struggling rural communities and hungry people in America and to farmers in developing countries working hard to earn their way out of poverty.
As the House of Representatives considers the farm bill this week, support the Kind-Flake Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment to make critical reforms and to bring greater equity to the farm bill.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
