After the narrow failure of key amendments to mitigate the legislation's injustices (described in earlier posts), the US Senate passed its version of the Farm Bill 79 - 14 last Friday. In response, as noted by Lagan Sebert, "An odd coalition of critics ranging from President Bush to environmental groups have charged that the Senate failed to significantly reform a subsidy system, which continues to subsidize large-scale farmers already making record profits and wealthy city-slickers cashing in on vast land ownership." This vast coalition includes the nonpartisan groups Oxfam America, Bread for the World, Land Stewardship Project, and Environmental Defense Fund.The Senate's Farm Bill will continue to impoverish millions abroad and violate international treaties. On December 18, the WTO released its full report on the Farm Bill's trade-distorting cotton subsidies that were ruled illegal in July. As described by the Associated Press, the US now risks trade retaliation from Brazil.
Needless to say, the Senate's actions are extremely disappointing for all of us who raised our voices for those who could not – African farmers and their families living on the brink of subsistence.
Oxfam Action Corps - Minnesota thanks everyone who asked Congress for a meaningfully reformed Farm Bill. Because of you, the Senate's Farm Bill contains added dollars for domestic nutrition, conservation, and minority farmer programs; votes on reform amendments were very close. We did make a difference.
This fight is not over. Additional opportunities to demand a fairer Farm Bill are ahead. The bill goes to Conference Committee in January and later to President Bush, who has threatened to veto the bill if changes are not made. Watch for developments and action opportunities in 2008.
Here's to a happy new year!
More Farm Bill news:
Dan Owens in the Grand Forks Herald, Blame Conrad for defeat of farm-bill reform
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Welfare for millionaires
Washington Post, Senate Passes Huge Farm Bill
Will Yliniemi in the Detroit Lakes (MN) Tribune, Infighting in Congress loses sight of ag interests
Wisconsin State Journal, Start over on farm bill
