Disastrous GOP Farm Bill Defeated
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today defeated the Republican Farm Bill that would have weakened environmental and public health protections, expanded corporate welfare and slashed conservation, nutrition and local food programs.
In response, Lisa Archer, Food and Agriculture Program Director at Friends of the Earth, issued the following statement:
The defeat of the regressive and unjust GOP Farm Bill is a resounding victory for public health and the environment. All across the nation, Americans spoke up to register their strong opposition to a Farm Bill that prioritized corporate profits over people and the planet. We applaud members of Congress that united against this mean-spirited attack on needy families, rural economies and our environment. We commend members of Congress for voting down this bill, which would have allowed corporations to spray pesticides directly into our drinking water, weakened endangered and threatened species protections from toxic pesticides and prevented states and cities from protecting themselves from toxic chemicals.
Today’s vote sends a strong message to the Senate as they draft a Farm Bill. Senators must reject attacks on environmental and public health safeguards, including preemption of local and state authority, and misguided cuts to conservation, nutrition and local and organic food.
Expert contact: Lisa Archer, (510) 900-3145, [email protected]
Communications contact: Patrick Davis, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]