Reporting From Capitol Hill at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Winter Meeting
By Harry Rhodes, Executive Director
FACT is a member of several national coalitions/networks. We pride ourselves on our commitment to collaboration. Last week I participated in the winter meeting of one of our partner organizations, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. This is one of the leading coalitions promoting a more just and sustainable agricultural system.
Over the past two years, the focus has been on the farm bill. It was supposed to be renewed last September, but that decision was put off by a year. While there is a lot of energy going towards getting a new farm bill passed this year, it is anyone’s guess if that will actually happen given that it is a presidential election year, and Congress has struggled to pass any significant legislation.
During the week, there were many discussions about the farm bill and how to promote sustainable agriculture policies that will help small and mid-sized farmers.
On the final day of meetings, Senator Debbie Stabenow, the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, spoke with us in person. She was very inspiring! She is doing all she can to pass a bipartisan farm bill that will preserve the conservation efforts achieved in the last two years.
Finally, on Thursday, the meeting culminated with visits on Capitol Hill. I met with staff of Senators Booker, Durbin, and Tillis, as well as Representative Lauren Underwood. All were very receptive to FACT’s work and supporting the many farmers in our network.
It was an exciting, tiring, and beautiful day in Washington DC.
Harry outside Senator Cory Booker’s office
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Outside Thom Tillis’ office