Environmental Advocates Mobilize to Stop Corporate Polluter Giveaways in Farm Bill
“Poison pill” provisions opposed by 171 organizations in letter to conferees
Contacts
Phil LaRue, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500 ext. 4317
A coalition of 171 environmental organizations authored a letter to conferees meeting to finalize the farm bill urging lawmakers to reject “poison pill” provisions that were included in the House version of the legislation. The groups contend that many of the House’s provisions include giveaways to corporate polluters.
In the letter, the groups note “more than 40 problematic provisions that undermine our environment” by threatening clean water, wildlife, lands, and public health. “Many of these controversial measures have already been rejected” earlier in the process, the letter states. The groups also discussed their opposition to provisions harming the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and making it harder for low-income households to put food on the table.
Sarah Saylor, Senior Legislative Representative at Earthjustice, issued the following statement:
“The success of this Farm Bill may hinge on getting the conservation aspects sorted. Given a House bill full of controversial anti-environmental provisions, there is plenty to drag the bill down. We have every reason to believe that Chairman Roberts and Ranking Members Stabenow and Peterson will hold the line.”
Read the full text of the environmental community letter and a list of signers.
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