Washington, D.C.   -  U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) has received the “Friend of Farm Bureau” award for supporting policies that help farmers become profitable and increase demand for American farm products. The Friend of Farm Bureau award is given each session of Congress to Members of Congress who are nominated by their respective state Farm Bureau and approved by the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors.

“I am honored to have received such a prestigious award from the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau,” English said.  “I am proud to be an advocate for American farmers and will continue to work in Washington to ensure that Pennsylvania’s 3rd district farmers have access to the resources they need to thrive in their livelihood.”

“I am sure that I am nearly echoing all the farmers in this region when I thank Congressman English for his support for agricultural legislation during the 109th Congress,” said Dennis Whitney, owner of Whitney Farms in Crawford County.

This Congress, English supported Pennsylvania’s rural and farm families by voting to permanently repeal the estate tax. Under current law, estate taxes are repealed until 2010, but they will be reinstated in full in 2011 unless Congress votes to repeal the tax permanently. Estate taxes destroy family-owned businesses when the tax, which can be as high as 48 percent, forces surviving family members to sell land, buildings or equipment to generate enough cash to pay the tax.

Additionally, English voted to prohibit the federal government from exercising eminent domain for economic development and to withhold federal funds from state and local governments that take private property under eminent domain for the purpose of economic development and increased property taxes.

Finally, English voted in favor of a major piece of energy legislation that benefits agriculture. The comprehensive Energy Policy Act of 2005 created opportunities for agricultural producers to help alleviate the nation’s dependence on foreign sources of energy.

“On behalf of our more than 40,000 members, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) would like to thank Congressman English for his support of agriculture and our rural families,” said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer.

In order for a state Farm Bureau to nominate a Member, that Member must vote consistently in favor of Farm Bureau issues. The voting records are based on American Farm Bureau Federation priority issues, as determined by the AFBF board of directors.

 For more information on the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau please visit: http://www.pfb.com/ 

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