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Tell Congress to Reform the Farm Bill
When you think of family farmers, do you picture comedian David Letterman or former NBA star Scottie Pippen? How about billionaires like David Rockefeller and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen?
Amazingly, they're some of the people receiving your taxpayer dollars in the form of crop subsidies, which overwhelmingly benefit big agribusiness and absentee landlords at the expense of farmers in America and the developing world who are struggling to feed their families.
Right now, Congress is deciding whether to extend these subsidies as part of the Farm Bill, a mammoth but little-known piece of legislation that governs our nation's agricultural policies. It affects everyone who eats, not just those who farm.
Send a message to your senators and representative today!
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Reform the Farm Bill
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
As a constituent, I urge you to prioritize the needs of poor farmers - in the United States and abroad - as you craft the 2007 Farm Bill.
The current subsidy system is broken, benefiting big agribusiness interests and absentee landowners (like David Letterman and Scottie Pippen!) instead of legitimate small family farmers. And it wreaks havoc on the lives of farmers in developing countries by encouraging the overproduction of a handful of crops and driving down prices in the world market.
I urge you to reform the commodity title of the Farm Bill. Instead of paying subsidies to those who don't need them, we should be investing in other programs that promote nutrition (such as food stamps and school lunches), rural economic development, and conservation.
Continuing the 2002 Farm Bill is simply not an option - you must take this opportunity to reform the Farm Bill so that it is fair for both those who farm and those who eat.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
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