More than 150 Organizations Unite to Send Letter to President Biden, Sec. Vilsack Calling for “Transformative” Farm Bill

Every five years, Congress reauthorizes the Farm Bill, a wide-ranging piece of legislation that affects every part of our food system. The U.S. government spends $85.6 billion annually to support this system via the Farm Bill, and more through related policies (e.g., the Renewable Fuel Standard, the Child Nutrition Act and ad hoc disaster payments.)

The next Farm Bill to be authorized will be pivotal for the nation’s food and farm systems, which have been shocked and tested by the succession of climate change; a global pandemic; supply chain disruptions; significant inflation; and the ripple effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a major producer of grains and oil seeds. Those recent and ongoing crises have also highlighted the role of public policies and investments in supporting the food and farm system. As we have seen, the outcomes of those public investments too often include transfers of wealth from the many to the few, overpayment to commodity farmers, moral hazard, exploitation of workers and the sanctioning of practices that pollute and degrade the environment. With the reauthorization of the next Farm Bill fast approaching, we can’t miss this opportunity to share a transformative, values-oriented Farm Bill that dramatically improves the policies and federal resources that shape the U.S. food and farm system.

That’s why today Wholesome Wave joined more than 150 organizations united for a transformative, values-oriented Farm Bill to send a letter to President Biden and Secretary Vilsack. The letter asks that the president commit to a Farm Bill that reflects his values and builds on the administration’s actions to date to reduce economic inequality; bridge the nation’s racial divides; end hunger; confront the climate crisis; improve nutrition and food safety; and protect farmers, workers and communities.

The letter is linked below. We know that the president and Secretary Vilsack listen to voices like yours, calling for a transformative, values-oriented Farm Bill. Please join the conversation to make it clear that we need a Farm Bill that reflects the president’s values, and dramatically improves the nation’s well-being.

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You can also read the press release here.