House Proposal Shortchanges Conservation
July 17, 2007
Contact:
Scott Faber, sfaber@environmentaldefense.org , (202) 230-1899
Sharyn Stein, sstein@environmentaldefense.org , (202) 572-3396
(
The proposal would increase USDA conservation spending by less than $3 billion over five years — far less than conservation proposals by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and the Bush Administration.
“This proposal will fall far short of what’s needed to clean up our rivers and bays, save rare species, and preserve our open spaces,” said Scott Faber, Farm Policy Campaign Director at Environmental Defense.
New analysis by Environmental Defense shows that farmers and ranchers in the districts of more than half of the Committee members would be eligible for more benefits if Congress cut some subsidies to reward stewardship. Constituents in 24 of those districts would get more funding if Congress shifts $10 billion or more from direct subsidy payments to conservation programs.
The House Agriculture Committee is expected to finish work on the 2007 Farm Bill this week.
“Many legislators who vote for the status quo this week will be voting against the needs of their farmers and against the environment,” said Scott Faber. “There has never been a better time to reduce and restructure our subsidies. Farmers are eager to address environmental challenges, but are routinely turned away when they seek USDA conservation assistance. “
Faber applauded House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for working with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) to begin debate on needed reforms such as payment limits and means testing.
“We hope that Speaker Pelosi will continue to work with Chairman Peterson and reform leaders to strengthen farm subsidy reforms,” said Faber.
See the chart below for more information on all 24 districts.
Redirecting Portions of Direct Payments to Working Lands Conservation Extension Redirect $10 billion Redirect $15 billion Redirect $20 billion Name Annual Average Annual Average Annual Average Annual Average John T. Salazar (D-CO-3) $45,215,972 $80,581,870 $98,264,819 $115,947,768 Terry Everett (R-AL-2) $40,124,689 $56,073,833 $64,048,405 $72,022,977 Bob Etheridge (D-NC-2) $18,309,153 $27,722,026 $32,428,463 $37,134,900 Mike McIntyre (D-NC-7) $22,236,991 $30,626,366 $34,821,053 $39,015,741 Lincoln Davis (D-TN-4) $14,593,059 $22,164,049 $25,949,544 $29,735,039 Jo Bonner (R-AL-1) $15,522,277 $23,069,453 $26,843,040 $30,616,628 Bob Goodlatte (R-VA-6) $9,586,779 $17,010,035 $20,721,662 $24,433,290 Zachary T. Space (D-OH-18) $17,276,752 $22,074,258 $24,473,011 $26,871,764 K. Michael Conaway (R-TX-11) $48,871,625 $53,167,256 $55,315,071 $57,462,886 Mike Rogers (R-AL-3) $8,173,659 $12,309,650 $14,377,646 $16,445,642 Jim Marshall (D-GA-3) $29,522,207 $33,535,454 $35,542,077 $37,548,701 Tim Mahoney (D-Fl-16) $4,027,599 $7,758,551 $9,624,028 $11,489,504 Virginia Foxx (R-NC-5) $5,646,342 $9,170,218 $10,932,156 $12,694,094 Dennis A. Cardoza (D-CA-18) $16,424,169 $19,298,513 $20,735,684 $22,172,856 Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY-20) $5,969,691 $8,700,209 $10,065,467 $11,430,726 John R. ‘‘Randy’’ Kuhl, Jr. (R-NY-29) $8,379,000 $10,959,030 $12,249,045 $13,539,060 Robin Hayes (R-NC-8) $8,573,013 $10,815,331 $11,936,490 $13,057,648 Jean Schmidt (R-OH-2) $7,294,328 $8,560,915 $9,194,209 $9,827,502 Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) $7,289,850 $8,336,789 $8,860,259 $9,383,728 Tim Holden (D-PA-17) $4,384,011 $5,171,955 $5,565,927 $5,959,900 David Scott (D-GA-13) $313,727 $574,283 $704,560 $834,838 Steve Kagen MD (D-WI-8) $18,624,364 $18,841,977 $18,950,783 $19,059,589 Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-22) $9,884,165 $10,006,330 $10,067,412 $10,128,494 Joe Baca (D-CA-43) $60,069 $116,685 $144,993 $173,301
For more information, go to Scott Faber’s blog, “The Ruminant,” —
http://environmentaldefenseblogs.org/healthyfarms/