- Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Paul
Wellstone (D-MN), Craig Thomas (R-WY), and Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
offered an amendment banning packer ownership of livestock. Packers
use captive supplies to control the market, reduce fair competition,
and keep prices to independent producers down. Despite heavy
corporate objection and vigorous lobbying efforts, the amendment
PASSED, 51-46.
- Senators Russell Feingold (D-WI), Charles Grassley (R-IA), and
Tom Harkin (D-IA) offered an amendment prohibiting forced mandatory
arbitration agreements in contracts, giving farmers a choice in how
they want to resolve disputes with big industry. This amendment
PASSED, 64-31.
- Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) offered an amendment that would have stripped the Farm Bill of all new mandatory spending, much of which was on nutrition, research and food security programs that members of the Campaign for a Just Food and Farm Policy and our allies fought for. This amendment was DEFEATED, 55-40.
Greetings all and warm wishes from the Rural Coalition and the members of the SuperMarket Coop for a prosperous and joyful year ahead. The last year has seen many changes, challenges and opportunities for growth for family farmers, our communities and ourselves. As we welcome in the New Year we would like to update you on the status of Food and Justice issues for the 2002 Farm Bill that we at Rural Coalition and our allies have been working on with you in the past year-including our victories! We also hope to prepare you to continue your critical support a fair and equitable year ahead.
The 2002 Farm Bill
In our last Juicer we reported that the Senate was debating numerous Amendments to their version of the farm bill, and would be most likely have a bill passed before the new year. In the final days of the last session of Congress there were three amendments offered to end debate on the bill and put a halt on a GOP filibuster. By a narrow margin, 54-43 on the last vote (60 are needed to pass), all were defeated.
With unlimited debate allowed on a seemingly unlimited number of amendments, the Senate recessed on December 21st unable to vote on the final bill. Senate Republicans were criticized for stalling the bill and jeopardizing $70 billion in budget surpluses allocated last year to be spent on agriculture over the next ten years. This additional funding may become unavailable when a new budget is released late winter or early spring of 2002.
Both the House and the Senate will resume work on January 23rd, and it is expected that the Senate farm bill debate will resume soon after. The process could become lengthy and contentious, especially if reductions in budget allocations require changes in the pending House and Senate versions. Bills on both sides continue to provide increasing subsidies to large farms, and do nothing to stabilize market prices, supply or address the needs of small farmers, rural communities, or hungry people.
In the midst of hour long floor statements and endless rambling from members aimed at delaying the Senate's passing of the farm bill, members did manage to cast a few votes. In the last week of the debate in December, several key amendments were passed that will benefit independent producers, concerned consumers, and the environment. Below is a list of some Senate farm bill wins:
The Senate's action on all of the these amendments mark a huge victory for independent family farmers fighting corporate ag. Minority farmers also noted a series of victories both in the committee's original bill, and in the manager's amendment that still awaits floor action.
Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) with support from Senators Harkin, Daschle and Cochran, offered language to increase the authorization of the Section 2501 Minority Farm Outreach Program to $25 million, matching the amount in the Hilliard amendment that was accepted in the House bill. The Lugar amendment went further, giving the program greater flexibility to integrate outreach across all areas of the Department. Lugar also offered language with Harkin's support to improve the accountability of USDA County Committees, and to allow the Secretary to reform election procedures where fair representation is not achieved. In addition, this new language also required USDA to report publicly, and to Congress, the participation rates of minority farmers in County Committee elections and in all USDA programs serving farmers and ranchers.
The committee also included stronger provisions offered by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and others to strengthen and extend the food stamp program, including some restoration of benefits to legal residents who were excluded in 1996. An even stronger and more expensive package offered by Senator Lugar was not accepted.
When the Senate returns to the debate their will be many more amendments to fight for to improve the position of family farmers and rural communities. The following amendments are being supported by The Campaign:
- Senators Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) introduced
an amendment to establish an Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights at
USDA. The new Assist. Secretary would oversee all areas of civil
rights in the department, including employee discrimination and
services to farmers and ranchers. The amendment was withdrawn after
Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) offered an amendment that linked the
confirmation of controversial nominee for Solicitor of the Dept. of
Labor, Eugene Scalia, to the creation of the new appointment. Now
that President Bush has used a recess appointment to move Scalia
into this position, the Craig rider will likely be withdrawn. If
so, the Senators are committed to offering the amendment again. A
great deal of public support will be needed to ensure that this
amendment passes.
- Senators Grassley, Dorgan and others will be offering an
amendment to limit the amount of federal payments that producers
can receive. In addition to limiting payments, the proposal requires
that payments go to people actually involved in farming, and end
payments to wealthy non-farmers. This amendment will reduce
mega-payments to large producers who use that money to unfairly
compete against small farmers. The amendment is conservatively
expected to save over $1 billion, funds that the sponsors recommend
be directed toward nutrition and rural development programs.
- Just as the Senate was wrapping up Sen. Wellstone offered an amendment limiting the use of Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds by giant confinement livestock operations to clean up animal waste. Sen. Lugar and others want to change the program and make it available to mega farms owned or controlled by agribusiness, while independent producers, environmental groups and rural communities are fighting hard to keep taxpayers dollars out of factory farms and make them responsible for cleaning up their own "crap".
Industry is working hard during this recess against the important wins outlined above, and others in the Senate bill, and trying to put up barriers to additional amendments that will be introduced in the interest of independent and minority farmers. The determined voices of concerned consumers in support of family farms and healthy food has given corporate ag. a run for the their money. Your continued support and political persistence will be vital in the home stretch of this farm bill.
THE JANUARY SQUEEZE
Gear-up and Fight for Equity and Fairness in 2002
We are asking the Senate to:
- Keep pro-competition amendments intact and protect the interest
of independent livestock producers against the abusive practices of
corporate agriculture.
- Support the appointment of an Assist. Secretary of Civil Rights
at USDA and confirm their commitment to addressing persistent
discrimination problems at the Department.
- Swiftly pass their farm bill and work with with the House to pass a final bill in time to secure additional funding for all programs included in the farm bill, especially meeting the needs of hungry people.
What you can do:
- Contact your members while they are in their home offices and
demand that they stand-up for a Just Food and Farm Policy and support
the amendments above.
- Join the Rural Coalition Food n' Justice list serve by visiting www.Ruralco.org and receive updates and action alerts as the Senate Farm Bill is completed.
Be Part of Our Campaign for Food n’ Justice,
visit www.ruralco.org.
Questions on food and farm policy?
Contact Heather Fenney at (202) 628-7160.
To join or support our work:
Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural
1012 14th Street, NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 628-7160
Visit www.Ruralco.org or
www.SuperMarketCoop.com.