Please call your representative by NOON, Thursday, July 26 at 1-800-826-3688. Urge him/her to vote for the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment offered by Reps. Ron Kind and Jeff Flake. Tell him/her the House Agriculture Committee's version of the farm bill does little to change the inequities of farm payments and it must be amended.

[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your representative’s office in order to leave your message.]

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Message:

Please vote to support the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment.

Background:

This week, the House will be voting on the farm bill. The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee will offer the committee's version of the farm bill, and it does little to help struggling farm and rural families in the United States, or hungry people here and around the world. It leaves largely untouched our current commodity programs, which concentrate payments in the hands of a few, relatively affluent people, some of whom do not actually farm. The committee's farm bill would also do nothing to change policies that make it more difficult for farmers in poor countries to sell their crops and feed their families.

Your representative has the opportunity to support real reform and fairness in America's farm and food policy. His/her vote for 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.

Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) will offer the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment. The amendment's key reforms include:

• A Fair and Reliable Safety Net for Farmers
• Support for Working Family Farmers
• Crop Insurance Reforms
• A Gradual Reduction in Direct Payments.
• Significantly Bolster Nutrition Programs.
• Promote Land Stewardship
• Support Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
• Boost Rural Development
• Enhance McGovern-Dole School Lunch Program

Last week, the full Agriculture Committee voted to implement little change to the 2002 farm bill, yet called those modest changes "reform." Now is the time for your member of Congress to know that those changes are not sufficient for struggling farmers or hungry people here or around the world. We can and must do better. Their opportunity to vote for fairness is now. Their vote for the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment is critical. It is time to vote for a fairer and more just farm bill.

Talking points for your call:

• The House Agriculture Committee sent out a bill that makes minimal changes, falling far short of its claims to help all farmers equitably and fairly. 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.

• The Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment addresses many concerns left behind by the Committee bill.

• The Fairness Amendment provides critical funding to strengthen nutrition programs, rural communities, conservation programs, without relying on uncertain funding from outside of the committee.

• The priorities in the Fairness Amendment reflect the priorities of most Americans—not just the few, powerful interests that have dominated the debate for decades.

• As your constituent, I urge you to vote for the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment when it is offered on the floor.

Call today!

If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Berman: sberman@bread.org or 512-474-2417 and 1-888-257-0239 (toll free).