{"id":3250,"date":"2018-07-01T11:00:20","date_gmt":"2018-07-01T15:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/?p=3250"},"modified":"2019-03-23T22:42:01","modified_gmt":"2019-03-24T02:42:01","slug":"farm-bill-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/farm-bill-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"FARM BILL 2018: Support Bipartisan Senate Plan, Oppose House Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The House narrowly passed its farm bill that was drafted behind closed doors cuts food assistance and gives massive subsidies to the rich. The Senate passed it’s own bipartisan plan that helps farmers without robbing millions of Americans of their vital food assistance. The bill now goes to conference. Tell your MoCs to preserve the protections in the Senate bill and to vote NO on any version that hurts the poor and the environment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Trump Administration & Federal Govt Working Group<\/a> C2A<\/strong><\/p>\n

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THE ISSUE<\/span><\/h4>\n

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The Senate passed its version of the farm bill<\/a> last week with protections for food assistance, small farmers, and the environment. Both of Maine’s senators voted for the bill. The House, on the other hand, passed a bill<\/a> that the Congressional Budget Office says will cause roughly 2 million low income people, including children, to lose their benefits <\/a>or have them greatly reduced, and put large numbers of families at increased risk of hardship. While Rep. Pingree has been an outspoken opponent<\/a> of such cuts, Rep.\u00a0Poliquin has supported them and voted for the House bill, even though\u00a0Maine has the third-highest rate of hunger in the nation<\/a>. At the same time the House-passed bill makes it harder for families to put food on the table, it makes it easier for wealthy farm owners to gain billions in subsidies<\/a> for themselves and even their extended family members who do not live or work on the farm. Some of those who stand to win big with the relaxation of the pass-through provision are current members of Congress who have already received hundreds of thousands of dollars in prior farm bill subsidies (see talking points below). The Senate version is a different story.<\/a> Officially known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (S.3042)<\/a>, the bill is being championed by advocacy groups as being far superior to the House version. Not only does it preserve the SNAP program, it also protects drinking water from pesticides, boosts local food programs, and preserves local pesticide laws. It also includes\u00a0<\/span>three provisions drafted by Rep. Pingree<\/a>. The Senate and House versions will go to conference<\/a> after the July recess.<\/p>\n

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THE ACTION<\/span><\/h4>\n