WASHINGTON (Sept. 11, 2007)—More than 20 organizations representing farmers and ranchers from across the U.S. called for “swift action in the Senate” on the 2007 farm bill in a letter [view letter] sent yesterday to key members of the U.S. Senate.
The letter underscores agriculture’s continued unity in passing a strong farm bill and highlighted three critical points:
- It is vitally important to mark-up and pass the 2007 bill as soon as possible.
- We believe that the legislation passed by the House of Representatives is an appropriate and useful starting point for the Senate deliberations.
- The bill must have strong bipartisan support in the Committee.
Signed by organizations representing peanut, soybean, wheat, barley, cotton, sorghum, sunflowers, rice, sugar, canola and dry pea and lentils interests, the letter also noted that “most of the existing law expires on September 30, leaving nothing in place but the 1938 and 1949 permanent law.”
The letter was addressed to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss. All members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry also received a copy.