Bush urged to sign farm bill


Washington, D.C. -— U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge today voted with a bipartisan majority of the House to pass The Food, Conservation and Energy Act, a new five-year Farm Bill.

Etheridge is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management of the House Agriculture Committee, which wrote a large portion of the bill.

“The new Farm Bill is more than just a bill for farmers. It will affect all Americans by ensuring we continue to have a stable and affordable food supply,” said Etheridge. “Agriculture is still the largest industry in North Carolina and the Farm Bill will ensure that our rural economy remains strong.”

The bill sets agricultural policy for the next five years. Etheridge was a member of the Conference Committee that negotiated the final bipartisan compromise version of the legislation. The President has said he will veto the bill.

“I urge the President to back off his ill-advised veto threat and to stand with rural Americans by signing the Farm Bill into law,” said Etheridge. “Republicans, Democrats, farm groups and consumers all made compromises in writing this bill. I hope the President will join us in supporting this reform-minded Farm Bill.”

The bill keeps intact the basic farm safety net, while making needed reforms. It includes a new energy provision that will invest in production of and research into renewable energy sources. Also for the first time, the bill provides funds for specialty crops like fruits and vegetables, a growing agriculture sector in North Carolina.

Before the Agriculture Committee wrote the bill, Etheridge met with farmers from across the Second Congressional District in a series of listening sessions to hear what North Carolina farmers wanted to be included in the new Farm Bill. Etheridge also participated in a series of committee hearings with farmers across the country.

Highlights of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act

Ensuring Food Security

· Nutrition programs increased by $10.361 billion with benefit increases indexed to the cost of living

· Vital assistance to food banks increased by $1.25 billion

· New funding boosts organic agriculture, fruit and vegetable programs, and local food networks

· Country-of-origin labeling for meat and produce made mandatory

Promoting Homegrown Renewable Energy

· Provides $1.1 billion to fund programs that will help the renewable energy industry invest in new technologies that use a variety of sources beyond feed grains.

· Corn ethanol tax credit reduced and redirected to incentives for cellulosic ethanol

· Creates a loan guarantee program and a program to encourage and develop production of dedicated energy crops

· Bioenergy research increased and renewable energy programs expanded

Reforming Farm Programs

· Farm program safety net extended and modernized, with an updated adjusted gross income means test for commodity programs

· Farm and conservation program transparency increased, with direct attribution of payments and the ending of practices that result in multiple payment eligibility

· Budgeted standing disaster assistance program for crops stricken by catastrophic natural disasters such as drought and flood

Protecting the Environment

· Conservation spending increased by $7.9 billion

· Doubles funding for the Farm Protection Program to protect agricultural lands from urban and suburban development pressure

· Increases funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program to enhance and protect our natural resources

· Continues funding for Grassland Reserve and Wetlands Reserve programs

· Creates an Open Fields Program to encourage public access to private land for hunting and fishing as well as a Chesapeake Bay program to help restore and protect the Bay watershed

Strengthening International Food Aid

· Provides $60 million to purchase food overseas to feed people in need, on top of the existing Food for Peace international aid program, along with an evaluation of this change and its effect on U.S. response times

· Reauthorizes the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program for infant, child, and school nutrition programs in underdeveloped countries and provides an infusion of $84 million in additional funding