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Blumenauer Calls to Shift the Farm Bill

March 29, 2023

Washington D.C. –Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) is calling on using the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization to improve America’s food and agriculture systems. Today’s “Shift the Farm Bill: A Call for Reform,” event featured remarks by Blumenauer as well as national experts in food, agriculture, health, sustainability, and animal welfare.

Blumenauer also announced the introduction of his Food and Farm Act. The bill is a comprehensive alternative to the Farm Bill that focuses resources on those who need it most, fosters innovation, encourages investments in people and the planet, and ensures access to healthy foods.

More information about the Food and Farm Act can be found here..

Additionally, fourteen satellite events will occur over the following month in support of the Food and Farm Act and the need to "Shift the Farm Bill." These will be hosted by colleges and universities, community groups, and advocacy organizations across the country in collaboration with Farm Sanctuary.

“Americans deserve a better food policy, and my Food and Farm Act would accomplish that,” said Congressman Blumenauer, “Our current system pays too much to the wrong people to grow the wrong foods in the wrong places.”

Individuals and organizations voicing support for the Food and Farm Act and shifting the Farm Bill include:

The Food and Farm Act advances a transformational vision for U.S. food systems – one that prioritizes the needs of animals, farmers, families, and the planet over the profits of millionaire landowners, billionaire investors, and corporate consolidators.” -- Alexandra Bookis, Sr. Manager of U.S. Government Affairs, Farm Sanctuary

“It’s great that Congressman Blumenauer wants to shift the Farm Bill. The current Farm Bill focuses on producing feed for animals and fuel for cars. It’s time to transform it to promote policies that support food for people and sustainable production practices. Blumenauer’s Bill is a great step in that direction and is worth all our support.” -- Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, New York University

"We are grateful for Congressman Blumenauer’s continued leadership in farm and food policy. He truly appreciates that our food systems are a critical piece of infrastructure that demand careful consideration and the creation of policies that support not only eaters and producers, but our economy and environment, too. The Congressman’s proposal for the Farm Bill will ensure that independent restaurants and bars locally in the verdant 3rd Congressional District of Oregon as well as those nationwide have access to healthy ingredients with which to nourish their patrons and community. “ Erika Polmar, Executive Director, Independent Restaurant Coalition

“The Farm Bill represents our most precious opportunity to make much-needed changes to the way we produce food in this country. Congress should shift federal investments by encouraging the growing, marketing, and sales of real food, by making that food more accessible to more people, by discouraging the production and sale of junk food and by restricting the egregious effects of raising animals in factories.” – Mark Bittman

“Good nutrition requires a healthy planet but our current food system puts public health, biodiversity, and food security at risk. This bill is huge step to put us on the right track to protect families, farmers, and the environment.” -- Mark Rifkin, Sr. Food and Agriculture Policy Specialist, Center for Biological Diversity

"The farm bill should promote the cultivation and accessibility of safe, sustainable, and culturally significant foods — not prop up industries that pollute our environment and disempower malnourished communities. Slow Food USA relies on the power of our grassroots volunteer network to achieve these goals because the Farm Bill has failed communities, particularly non-White communities, since its inception. But that can change in 2023. By funding food systems centered on the well-being of local communities, Congress can finally create a good, clean and fair Farm Bill for all." -- Brian Solem, Communications Director, Slow Food USA

The Food and Farm Act includes many important components that would provide much-needed change to the farm bill. As a dietitian and educator about the farm bill, I know that past US farm bills have led to a food system that produces an overabundance of processed food and environmental pollution that contribute to poor human and environmental health. At the same time, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans; the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health; and other national statements and strategies are positioning improved nutrition security and dietary quality as priorities for our country. Shifting federal investments by reigning in commodity spending through more stringent limits on income for subsidy recipients, imposing stronger and more comprehensive conservation requirements for subsidy recipients, expanding and making permanent the produce prescription pilot program, and other changes made through this act would help to shift our food and farming system to better align with those nation-wide health goals.” – Christina Badaracco, co-author of The Farm Bill and Registered Dietician Nutritionist

"The US shouldn't keep falling behind other nations when it comes to how we'll produce protein into the 21st century. The federal government has a major role to play in driving domestic food tech innovation to recreate the meat experience without animals." – Paul Shapiro, CEO of The Better Meat Co. and author of Clean Meat

“Reducing the negative effects of factory farming across the nations is a great way to eliminate harmful ecological and social outcomes, which is what the Fair Start Movement is all about.” – Carter Dillard, Policy Advisor, Fair Start Movement

“Open Markets believes conservation programs such as EQIP and CSP must be expanded and redirected to fund truly regenerative farming systems instead of subsidizing harmful ones, like CAFOs. USDA must also reform federal checkoff programs to prevent farmers' resources from funding agribusiness lobbying.” – Claire Kelloway: Food Program Director, Open Markets Institute

"Water use in animal agriculture has tipped the (Central) United States past a safe planetary boundary according to peer-reviewed scientific information. 75% of cropland in the United States is used to grow animal feed. We just cannot keep this up and ensure the water security of future Americans. This should be a bi-partisan, uncontroversial issue area because it impacts all of us." – Dr. Sparsha Saha, Lecturer on Government, Harvard University

"The Animal Welfare Institute is grateful to Congressman Blumenauer for introducing the Food and Farm Act and offering an alternative, more humane approach to securing our food system while uplifting farmers and ranchers who are committed to practices that are better for farmed animals. This legislation will help redirect the flow of taxpayer dollars away from industrial animal agriculture, which for years has inflicted mass suffering on billions of animals, toward farmers dedicated to providing higher welfare products that consumers increasingly want. We hope Congress will work to include these important provisions in the next Farm Bill." – Dena Jones, Farmed Animal Program Director, Animal Welfare Institute

“We are working toward a vision of what our agriculture system should be by focusing more on solutions to the pervasive problems with the industrial agriculture system. Our priorities include improving investment in water and climate-friendly agricultural outcomes, and slowing the loss of farmland and preventing sprawling development, as well as ensuring greater transparency and accountability for the agricultural industry. In addition, as we move toward a new agricultural system, we must amplify our communities’ voices and right the wrongs of the racist public policies and programs that have only aided white farmers.” – Devora Kimelman-Block: Agriculture Policy Specialist, Waterkeepers Chesapeake Fair Farms Initiative

The Farm Bill's current framework is built for a bygone era. Its structure encourages the production of already overproduced feed grain crops and discourages the production of sorely needed nutritious fruits, vegetables, and legumes. It offers taxpayer money to multibillion-dollar corporations but fails to adequately support hundreds of local and socially disadvantaged farmers. The Food and Farm Act provides the makeover that the Farm Bill desperately needs to address the root causes of America's modern issues, including diet-related disease, animal suffering, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and climate change. The bill also closes loopholes that businesses have exploited for years, such as the corporate use of taxpayer money to fund legally mandated manure management on factory farms.” – Allison Molinaro, Campaigns Manager, Compassion in World Farming

“The vast majority of Americans care about the well-being of animals raised for food. But federal agricultural policy does not reflect this reality. The Food & Farm Act tackles this issue head on by creating an animal welfare tax incentive, ensuring agricultural research centers using farm animals abide by animal welfare standards, and making Animal Welfare Act enforcement records available to the public. By establishing the first Animal Welfare Title in the Farm Bill, legislators supporting the Food & Farm Act are changing the course of history and creating a more compassionate world.” – Sarah Stewart, President, Animals Are Sentient Beings, Inc.

“We support a transition to healthy, sustainable, plant-based diets. If federal funding shifted to support healthy, sustainable, just diet patterns, that is whole food plant-based diets, that would not only support our organization's priorities, but also support food justice, improve the health and well-being of the U.S. population, and decrease the food system's contribution to environmental devastation.” – Beth Love, ED of Eat for the Earth

"Our farm businesses have been supported through USDA funding through NRCS and a Climate Resilient Grant.  This support has helped build the infrastructure needed to implement regenerative grazing techniques…There is not enough money spent on food to cover the true cost of production, let alone the cost of good stewardship.” – Elizabeth Collins: Co-operator, Otter Creek Farm

“Taxpayers for Common Sense applauds Congressman Blumenauer for his steadfast leadership championing taxpayer- and farmer-friendly reforms to federal farm policy. The complex, convoluted, and increasingly costly farm bill is a shining example of what a broken legislative process will produce. Mr. Blumenauer’s efforts to engage everyone from farmers, to environmentalists, to fiscal conservatives in developing the Food and Farm Act is an antidote to Washington’s dysfunction. The farm commodity and conservation program reforms in the Food and Farm Act would ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and targeted toward efforts with a better return on investment. The Food and Farm Act would help achieve a federal farm financial safety net that is focused, fiscally responsible, and fosters resilience, instead of dependence on taxpayer subsidies and we look forward to making it a centerpiece of the next farm bill.” - Steve Ellis, President, Taxpayers for Common Sense
 

"We need a Farm Bill that provides a strong safety net for farmers but that also meets America's big hunger and public health challenges, including our climate and drinking water challenges. The status quo is not working. Too many rural communities get tap water contaminated with farm chemicals and too many kids are going to bed hungry. Meanwhile, some of the wealthiest households in American receive millions in farm subsidies. This bill provides a road map to a Farm Bill that help farmers weather the ups and down of agriculture while also addressing hunger and health," - Ken Cook, President and Co-Founder of Environmental Working Group.

"As an agricultural land trust serving the state of Oregon, Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) is glad to endorse the Food and Farm Act. In particular, we support the bill's efforts to increase funding for key conservation programs authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill. These programs, like the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) provide farmers and ranchers with useful incentives to protect their land for future agricultural production. We respectfully urge the passage of this bill." -Nellie McAdams, Executive Director, Oregon Agricultural Trust

“The welfare of animals raised for food should be of great concern to all Americans.  When farm animals are treated inhumanely, it is not just an issue of cruelty, it is an issue of human health and safety. Intensive confinement of farm animals provides viruses and other pathogens with the perfect conditions to spread and mutate – increasing the chances of diseases, like various strains of the influenza virus, spreading beyond the farm to us all.  The Food and Farm Actimproves animal welfare leading to a healthier supply chain for consumers.” – Sara Amundson, President, Humane Society Legislative Fund

“Oregon Tilth appreciates Representative Blumenauer’s support for organic producers and visionary work toward creating a better farm and food system. The Food and Farm Act includes many of our priorities in support of organic, such as easing access to conservation programs for organic producers, prioritization of organic practices (like pest management), and general support for transitioning producers.” - Ben Bowell, Advocacy Manager, Oregon Tilth

Congressman Blumenauer's Food and Farm Act nourishes our communities through increased access to local foods. This is about building and sustaining our vibrant food system and developing our future food system leaders. Now is the time to invest in our food systems so that it transparently supports the local farmers who feed our communities fresh fruits and vegetables.”  -Jason Skipton, Growing Gardens

“The corporate-backed Farm Bill is responsible for federal policy that fails rural communities, independent farmers, farmworkers, consumers and our environment. Rebuilding a food system that puts people and the environment first, means directing resources to practices that build a regional, resilient food and farm system. The Food and Farm Actanswers this call. We urge its passage in the 2023 Farm Bill to build a fair farm bill for all.” Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch

The Food and Farm Act will help ensure all consumers have access to a reliable supply of safe, nutritious food, whose production better reflects most consumers’ values and expectations,” said Thomas Gremillion, Director of Food Policy at Consumer Federation of America.

“Food Tank is proud to support the Food and Farm Act. The way we grow, distribute, and consume food isn't working — not for eaters, farmers, animals, or the environment. This legislation represents an important step toward transforming the nation's food and agriculture system into one that is resilient, nourishing, and better for the planet.” - Danielle Nierenberg, President, Food Tank.

“Instead of handing out endless taxpayer dollars to agribusiness polluters, the Food and Farm Act will provide farmers the support they need to produce abundant, healthy food while protecting our soil, water, climate, and pollinators,” said Chloe Waterman, senior program manager for the food and agriculture program at Friends of the Earth. “For the benefit of family farmers, communities, animals, and the environment, we urge Congress to reject the status quo and support Rep. Blumenauer’sFood and Farm Act.”

"The Food and Farm Act would institute some of the most vital agricultural reforms of our time by codifying federal support for pasture-based food systems that ensure animals are treated more humanely,” said Matt Bershadker, President and CEO, ASPCA. “The Farm Bill’s decades-long failure to address urgent animal welfare needs has resulted in unnecessary suffering for billions of farmed animals, and we urge Congress to include these more compassionate measures to stop the cruelty of the factory farm system.”

“Good nutrition requires a healthy planet but our current food system puts public health, biodiversity, and food security at risk,” said Mark Rifkin, the senior Food and Agriculture Policy Specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Rep. Blumenauer’sFood and Farm Act is huge step to put us on the right track to protect families, farmers, and the environment.”

"U.S. PIRG applauds Congressman Blumenauer for championing consumer- and environmentally-friendly reforms to the Farm Bill. By eliminating the preferential treatment of commodity producers and factory farm livestock and poultry producers in farm support programs, reforming conservation programs to ensure that our tax dollars yield true environmental benefits, and investing in sustainable solutions to the massive problem of food waste, the Food and Farm Act promotes opportunities to support consumers, the environment and public health in our food system." - Danielle Melgar, Food and Agriculture Advocate for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG)

"A healthy environment and sustainable farming can go hand in hand. Unfortunately, for years the Farm Bill has supported practices that harm bees and other pollinators while polluting waterways and contributing to climate change. Environment America thanks Congressman Blumenauer for working to reduce agricultural pollution and help producers farm more sustainably." - Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America's Washington Legislative Office