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Below: Please see my message to my present Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va-6th). My message was prompted by the email from the Episcopal Church, at the bottom of this message: ---------------------------------------------------
----- Message -----
From: < john4_SamRasoul_2008 >
To: < Rep. Goodlatte >
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 2:19 AM
Subject: Farm Bill Status Quo NOT OK
> Dear Representative Goodlatte,
>
> I write as an Episcopalian and your constituent
> to urge your support for a reformed 2007 farm
> bill that strengthens rural communities
> everywhere. As the House nears floor
> consideration of the bill and it becomes
> apparent the Agriculture Committee is likely to
> put forward a bill that preserves the status
> quo, I urge you to stand up for a new covenant
> with rural America.
>
> Current U.S. farm policy represents a broken
> promise to America's farmers and is a far cry
> from the economic safety net for farmers
> during difficult times intended by the first
> U.S. farm bill. Commodity subsidies flow to a
> small number of primarily large-scale farms
> while the majority of farm families and rural
> communities are left behind. Moreover, the
> commodity-subsidy system harms poor farmers in
> developing countries who cannot compete in world
> markets distorted by the current U.S. commodity
> payment system.
>
> My Church, the Episcopal Church, is working on
> farm-bill reform with an unprecedented alliance
> of faith groups and anti-poverty advocates that
> includes Roman Catholics, Protestants,
> Evangelicals, Bread for the World, Oxfam, and
> the ONE Campaign.
>
> Specifically, we would like to see a farm bill that:
>
> -- Reforms the commodity-payment program so that
> our nation's farm policy helps U.S. farmers of
> modest means and does not distort commodity
> prices and supply in ways that make it harder
> for farmers in poor countries to feed their
> families;
>
> AND
>
> -- Uses savings from the commodity title to
> increases investments in food-stamp benefits,
> rural development, conservation programs,
> and international-food aid programs that
> encourage local food security.
>
> In addition to supporting these reforms
> yourself, I urge you to consult with your
> party's leaders and ask them to stand on the
> side of reform also.
>
> 2007 presents a unique opportunity to return
> U.S. agricultural policy to its original
> grounding in the fundamental American value of
> fairness and opportunity for all people. As my
> Representative, I urge you to stand up for
> reform.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> John R. Cole
> Edinburg, VA 22824
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message below is from: The Episcopal Public Policy Network [EPPN], and is a Policy Alert
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Farm Bill is about to be considered by the full House. Right now efforts to reform the Farm Bill through the committee process have not been successful. This means that the cause of reform is now in the hands of the full House, and that it will be critical over the next few weeks for every member of the House to hear from constituents that the status quo is not good enough.
The Episcopal Public Policy Network
Policy Alert
Dear John,
Already this year, you've heard a lot from us about the U.S. farm bill ? the legislation that governs U.S. agricultural and food policy ? and the need for reforms that will strengthen rural communities and fight hunger at home and abroad. The House Agriculture Committee is giving final consideration to the bill this week, and ? despite the advocacy of an unprecedented alliance of faith groups and antipoverty advocates around the country ? all signs indicate that calls for farm-bill reform have fallen on deaf ears in the committee. This means that the cause of reform is now in the hands of the full House, and that it will be critical over the next few weeks for every member of the House to hear from constituents that the status quo is not good enough. It will also be critical to ask lawmakers to press House leaders to stand with the champions of reform.
Specifically, the farm bill should:
Reform the commodity-payment program so that our nation's farm policy helps U.S. farmers of modest means and does not distort commodity prices and supply in ways that make it harder for farmers in poor countries to feed their families; AND
Increase investments in food-stamp benefits, rural development, conservation programs, and international-food aid programs that encourage local food security. (For more information, click here.)
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Click here to email your representative TODAY and ask that he or she stand up for a farm bill that strengthens rural communities and fights hunger, both at home and around the world.
110 Maryland Ave., N.E. #309, Washington, D.C. 20002
1-800-228-0515, (202) 547-7300, FAX (202) 547-4457
On the Web: www.episcopalchurch.org/eppn
Email: eppn@episcopalchurch.org