Your calls are making a difference!
Dear friends of local organic food and farming:
As we have alerted this week, buried in the latest stop-gap budget resolution from the US Senate is language that would strip federal courts of authority to stop plantings of illegal transgenic crops. There is another rider attachment being lobbied for by the meat industry that would drive independent producers out of business.
Over the past few days we have heard from many people across the Carolinas who have called and voiced their opinion to their Senators.
Due to the number and controversy around the provisions to the Continuing Resolution, the Senate decided last night to push the rest of the debate to next week and resume on Monday. THEY ARE LISTENING!
Thanks to national pressure, Senator Tester (D-MT) has introduced two amendments – one for each of the awful provisions – that removes them from the Continuing Resolution
Your Senator needs to hear from you (and your friends and colleagues!) TODAY, that he/she must vote for both Tester amendments in the Continuing Resolution, and put the livelihoods of independent producers and the health of our communities first – NOT the profits of large corporations.
TAKE ACTION! YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT!
The message is simple:
“Please vote for two amendments to the Continuing Resolution introduced by Senator Jon Tester of Montana that protect family farmers from abuses by the meat industry and support review of biotechnology products. These two amendments will stand up for family farmers, ensure that independent producers have a fair chance in the livestock market, and ensure that courts can review biotechnology products.”
NC Senators
Richard Burr: 202-224-3154
Kay Hagan: 202-224-6342
SC Senators
Tim Scott: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham: 202-224-5972
Thank you for taking action today!
Questions? Comments? Want more details? Please email us about your experience calling today at takeaction@carolinafarmstewards.org
Details
Senator Mikulski released the Senate Substitute Continuing Resolution Appropriations Bill (H.R. 933) for the 2013 federal budget on Tuesday night. The resolution contains two controversial legislative riders. Legislative riders are “add-on” policy provisions that are attached to appropriations bills that typically only deal with funding matters. These provisions “catch a ride” as a way to escape full debate in the appropriate committee that has jurisdiction over that specific policy area.
Section 735, or the “Monsanto Rider,” of this proposed Continuing Resolution is a rider that would strip federal courts of authority to stop plantings of illegal transgenic crops.
Section 742 of this proposed Continuing Resolution would eliminate the final GIPSA rule. This rule, which went into effect in 2012, provides basic contract fairness protections to livestock growers.
Amendment 75 is the proposed Tester Amendment to fix the GIPSA rider.
Amendment 74 is the proposed Tester Amendment to fix the biotech rider.