Statement on House Failure to Pass Fairness Amendment to Farm Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Scott Faber, sfaber@environmentaldefense.org, 202-572-3315-w or 202-230-1899-c

(Washington, DC – July 27, 2007) The following statement about the failure of the U.S. House of Representatives last night to pass the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment to the Farm Bill can be attributed to Scott Faber, Farm and Food Policy Campaign Director for Environmental Defense:

“The pressure created by House reformers like Ron Kind and Jeff Flake has forced House leaders to improve the bill, including new funding for conservation and nutrition. Nevertheless, many legislators missed an opportunity to do considerably more for their farmers and the environment by voting against the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment. Farmers are eager to share the cost of clean water and wildlife habitat and our farm policies should do more to reward — not reject — farmers when they volunteer to meet our environmental challenges.”