Fw: Senator Boxer Seeks Input on the Farm Bill Reauthorization

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Please go to http://boxer.senate.gov/farmbill and make your voice as a vegetarian heard. FWIW, my position is we shouldn't spend government money subsidizing the meat and dairy industries.

 

·Dave

----- Forwarded Message ----U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer <bulletinfeedbackdavidcortrightSent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 5:16:37 PMSenator Boxer Seeks Input on the Farm Bill Reauthorization

Dear Friend:Congress has regularly addressed national agricultural policysince the 1930s, including landmark legislation in 1933, 1938and 1949. Since 1977, Congress has enacted new omnibus FarmBills about every five years. Farm Bills are intended to setagricultural policy for the nation, and Congress is expected topass a new Farm Bill this year.Just as our nation and the world have changed since the earlyagricultural policy bills, the Farm Bill has also changed. Infact, those who debated the initial bills or the 1977 FarmBill, 30 years ago, would likely never have imagined thattrade, conservation and organic farming practices would betaking such a central role as we consider the latest Farm Bill.Serious discussion of the upcoming Farm Bill began last year,and my staff and I are following the discussion closely. Already, the Administration has set forth its

priorities, andcommittees in both the House and Senate have been discussingthe priorities that will best serve our agriculturalcommunities and the nation as a whole.While most Americans view the Farm Bill as helping onlyagricultural and rural communities, the 2007 bill contains anumber of provisions that benefit the entire nation, includingconservation and environmental restoration initiatives,nutrition programs such as Food Stamps and the Fresh Fruit andVegetable program, important food safety research to protectour food from pests and disease, and programs that help ourfarmers access foreign markets for their goods. My goals for this year's Farm Bill will be to ensure that thebill better reflects the prominence of California agricultureand that there is a stronger emphasis placed on importantconservation, nutrition, research, and trade provisions thatbenefit not only California but the entire nation.

I am also interested in hearing your views on the Farm Bill andhave established a feature on my Senate website where you canpost your comments. Each comment will be carefully reviewed aswe move forward with consideration of the bill. At the sameweb feature, you will be able to read regular updates on whatis happening with the bill. You will find this feature athttp://boxer.senate.gov/farmbillThe Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry isworking to have a bill on the floor of the Senate by summer,with a goal of final passage in the autumn. While I cannotguarantee that this schedule will be kept, it is very importantto me that you provide your comments early in the process. I look forward to hearing from you, and I look forward topassage of a new Farm Bill that benefits

California and thenation.Sincerely,Barbara BoxerUnited States Senator================================================If this message reached you in error, or if you would like tocancel your subscription, please reply to this message with“” in the subject line. For more information on Senator Boxer's record and otherinformation, please go to: http://www.boxer.senate.govTo respond to this message, please click on the following link:http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/feedback.cfm . This linkwill take you to a webpage where you can respond to messagesthat you receive from Senator Boxer’s office.