Partisan Wrangling Stalls Farm Bill
13 November 2007
As backroom deal-making delays a Senate vote on the Farm Bill, Oxfam America is asking its supporters to keep the pressure on Congress.
“The US Senate still has a chance to do something special with this Farm Bill,” said Liam Brody, director of Oxfam’s Farm Bill campaign. “It can either promote real reform – or continue propping up a broken system.”
During the last two weeks, Oxfam supporters have generated more than 35,000 emails, faxes, and phone calls asking Congress to reform the Farm Bill. Their efforts have combined with in-person lobbying efforts in Washington, DC. Last week, a contingent of Catholic bishops from West Africa met with several senators to ask that Congress end trade-distorting subsidies, the same subsidies that fuel an engine of overproduction that makes it impossible for West African farmers to compete. Oxfam’s own organizers and policy advisors joined these lobbying efforts, fanning out across Capitol Hill, sharing materials and information about some amendments to the Farm Bill, which would set aside additional money to protect rivers and streams, fund food stamps and school lunches, and develop renewable sources of energy. These proposals are expected to hit the Senate floor for review in the coming days.
The FRESH Act, a comprehensive reform package developed by Sen. Richard Lugar from Indiana would finally change farm payments so that they are based on need when farm revenues drop due to changes in weather or market conditions. This amendment is supported by a broad coalition, including taxpayer and environmental groups, members of the religious community and even the US Chamber of Commerce.
Iowa's Chuck Grassley and North Dakota's Byron Dorgan will offer another amendment, which would simply cap payments to farmers at $250,000 per farm.
Savings from both of these proposals could free up billions of dollars for important priorities such as conservation, nutrition programs, and energy security.
In addition, Oxfam is working with a number of Senate offices to offer an amendment to the Farm Bill that places a special emphasis on cotton subsidies, which are among the most trade-distorting. In fact, the World Trade Organization has determined that US cotton subsidies violate international trade rules.
To take action, call on the US Senate to reform the Farm Bill—for farmers, families, and our future.
