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As the New Year begins to unfold, the 2007 Farm Bill will be a top
priority in the second session of the 109th Congress. The Farm Security
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 expires in 2007 and I am committed to
addressing the need for a comprehensive Farm Bill that will take effect
in 2007. A Farm Bill is written every five years, and the 2007 Farm
Bill will be this nation’s agricultural policy until the year 2012.
A Farm Bill establishes a framework for agricultural policy and programs
that provide America’s farm families with the tools and resources needed
to continue providing our nation with a safe and reliable source of food
and fiber.
As an advocate for farm families throughout Arkansas, I feel that a
crucial component of writing the 2007 Farm Bill is receiving feedback from
farm families, understanding the positives and negatives of the 2002 Farm
Bill and hearing ideas from local farmers as Congress begins to draft the
2007 Farm Bill. In the United States, we are very fortunate to have
a safe and abundant supply of food and fiber. On Wednesday, January
11th, I will be hosting Agriculture Listening Sessions and am honored to
have special guest and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee,
Collin Peterson of Minnesota, join me for the second consecutive year.
The Texarkana Listening Session will take place at the Four States Fair
Grounds, 3700 East 50th Street at 9:00 a.m. The Dumas Listening Session
will be held at the Dumas Community Center, 18 Belmont Street in Dumas,
Arkansas at 3:00 p.m. These sessions will give us an opportunity
to hear directly from farm families as we prepare to write the 2007 Farm
Bill. Congressman Peterson and I want to get thoughts and ideas on
ways to improve our nation’s farm policy and ensure our farm families have
the proper tools and resources they need.
Every five years, Congress is given the opportunity to author a new
Farm Bill, improving upon programs from the previous Farm Bill and handed
a chance to fight for new programs needed by our nation’s deserving farm
families. Among other things, this rewrite of the Farm Bill bestows
upon us a chance to create additional markets for our farmers, especially
permanent agriculture disaster assistance programs, and promote the production
and use of bio fuels.
As your Representative in Congress, I believe an integral part of my
job is to personally meet with constituents throughout the district and
learn about community issues and matters of local concern. As the
Farm Bill will be a top priority for this session of the 109th Congress,
I sincerely hope that you will attend and encourage your family and friends
who have a personal interest in the 2007 Farm Bill to attend these listening
sessions. As your voice in our nation’s capital, I am committed to
providing a real safety net for farm families in Arkansas and across America.
In order to be as effective as possible, I need to hear your feedback,
thoughts, and suggestions as we embark on writing this critical legislation
that directly impacts America’s farm families. |
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