The Farm Bill is a massive, multiyear legislative package that governs agricultural and food programs ranging from farm subsidies and crop insurance to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Congress is now attempting to pass H.R. 7567, their first full reauthorization of the Farm Bill since 2018. However, the bill contains multiple alarming provisions that undermine renewable energy and shield pesticide manufacturers from liability, and it fails to include much needed protections for people and the environment.
– The bill would block US Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for most solar panels, preventing farmers from accessing this lucrative renewable energy source at a time when fuel and fertilizer prices are already skyrocketing.
– The bill includes a provision to shield manufacturers of cancer-causing pesticides and chemicals like glyphosate from consumer lawsuits.
– The bill fails to include any provisions to reverse the devastating cuts to SNAP passed in last year’s H.R. 1 budget reconciliation bill. Most of these cuts will not take effect until next year, and the Farm Bill offers Congress an opportunity to block these changes before they trigger an unprecedented hunger crisis.
– The bill includes the “Save Our Bacon Act” to prohibit state regulation of out-of-state livestock sales, which would prevent states from adopting rules that protect animal welfare (and, by extension, food safety).
As Congress works on finalizing the bill, reps need to remember that constituents deserve bill that includes provisions to protect the environment and fight hunger.
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