The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture is forwarding this alert from
the Community Food Security Coalition. Please act now!
Calls Needed Now To Fix Appropriations Language for USDA
Community Food Security Initiative
>
>CFSC is working on the Congressional appropriations process to support
>the Community Food Security Initiative, which is not faring well. The
>$5.25 million for a new grants program to fund community-based
>anti-hunger efforts (different from the Community Food Projects funding)
>requested in the President's Budget for the Initiative was not included
>in either the House or Senate appropriations levels. The Senate Bill
>includes the same language as last year, but its report language only
>asked that USDA not create a separate Office of Food Security. The
>House Bill also did not fund the new program. Worse, it inserted
>language that could severely limit the activities of the Initiative and
>may negate it altogether. The House language reads:
>
>Section 732: Language is included that prohibits the use of funds to
>carry out a Community Food Security program or any similar activity
>without the prior approval of the Committee on Appropriations of both
>Houses of Congress.
>
>Meetings late last week between CFSC and legislative aides from two
>Congressional Offices indicate that Representatives may not be aware of
>this language, or that it matters to anyone. We need to generate calls
>that will bring it to their attention, noting that WE HAVE SERIOUS
>CONCERNS ABOUT THIS LANGUAGE. Ask questions about what this means and
>why USDA efforts to coordinate and integrate efforts already ongoing
>within the Department across a broad spectrum of activities that
>encourage food security is not being supported. Let them know that the
>Initiative efforts have been helpful and IT DOES MATTER TO US.
>
>We need to make as many calls to as many Congressional Representatives
>as possible THIS WEEK to register our concern and ask that this be
>looked into. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. The goal is to draw attention
>to this language as the Appropriations process continues in the weeks
>before the July 4th recess, so A CALL NOW WILL BE VERY HELPFUL. Please
>let us know if you make a call, to whom and the response you get!
>
>
>Note: The language is found in the House Report for Agriculture, Section
>#25 - General Provisions Changes in the Application of Existing Law
>(near the end of the report)
>
>(202) 224-3121 is the Congressional Switchboard number if you don't have
>the direct number of your Representative.
>
>
>THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris Campany, Organizer
National Campaign For Sustainable Agriculture
P.O. Box 396
Pine Bush, New York 12566
Phone: 914-744-8448 Fax: 914-744-8477
e-mail: campaign@magiccarpet.com
www.SustainableAgriculture.net
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Keep the faith!
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