Environmental Defense Praises Conservation Provisions of the EAT Healthy America Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Sean Crowley 202-572-3331, 202-550-6524-c, scrowley@environmentaldefense.org
Meg Little 202-572-3387, mlittle@environmentaldefense.org

(September 27, 2006 - Washington, DC) – Below is a statement by Scott Faber, farm policy campaign director for Environmental Defense, on the introduction today of the Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act (“EAT Healthy America Act”), sponsored by Reps. Richard Pombo (R-CA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA),  Adam Putnam (R-FL), and John Salazar (D-CO).

“Renewal of federal farm and food policies creates a rare opportunity to boost the profitability of more farmers, to give consumers more healthy food choices, to boost domestic energy production, and to reward farmers, ranchers and forest landowners when they take steps to meet our environmental challenges. I applaud the sponsors of the EAT Healthy Act – Reps. Pombo, Cardoza, Putnam, and Salazar - for introducing legislation that will help make health, energy, equity and the environment the central focus of the 2007 Farm Bill.

“Our farmers, ranchers and forest landowners are anxious to solve America’s environmental challenges. Farmers can do much more than provide food, fuels and fiber – they can also provide clean air, clean water, and clean energy. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of producers – or roughly three-out-of-four eligible applicants – are annually rejected when they offer to share the cost of a healthier environment or to serve as the frontline against sprawl. We can’t meet some of America’s most significant environment challenges unless we reward – rather than reject – farmers when they offer to help.”

“The conservation provisions of the EAT Healthy Act will double voluntary incentives for the stewardship of working farm, ranch and forest land – including a new voluntary, incentive-based program to help address the air quality challenges posed by agriculture. In addition, the conservation provisions of the EAT Healthy will provide unprecedented resources to reward farmers, ranchers and forest landowners when they voluntarily take steps to help America’s rare wildlife. Since the stewardship incentives included the EAT Healthy Act flow to all farmers regardless of what they grow, how much they grow, or where they live, the conservation provisions of the EAT Healthy Act will help ensure that the next farm bill serves more agricultural producers and more regions. ”