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NEWS RELEASE
05/02/2002
| ENVIRONMENTAL
DEFENSE PANS HOUSE PASSAGE OF FARM CONFERENCE REPORT |
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(2 May, 2002 -- Washington)
Environmental Defense today expressed regret that the House of
Representatives agreed to pass an enormously expensive and
environmentally damaging farm bill that will help the nation's
largest agricultural operations continue to swallow up family
farmers.
"This Farm Bill fails the environment, taxpayers and
the average farmer," said Environmental Defense senior attorney Tim
Searchinger.
"Congressman Ron Kind deserves enormous thanks for
the courage to stand up for conservation and family farmers," said
Searchinger in praise of the Wisconsin democrat. "The strong vote
for his motion shows how many Congressmen recognized the farm bill's
terrible flaws. Unfortunately, many of these same members of
Congress feared that the Agriculture Committee would delete their
own favorite programs if they voted to reject this bill and send it
back to the conference."
"Farms occupy half the land in the
U.S., and a meaningful farm bill would have rewarded farmers for how
they protect the land instead of pushing overproduction and
increased dependence on government aid," said Environmental Defense
water resources specialist Scott Faber. "It is particularly
unfortunate that the so-called compromise between the House bill and
the Senate bill actually combined the worst elements of
both."
"While it is true that the farm bill increases funding
for conservation -- it does far less than what is being claimed by
Congressman Combest and Senator Harkin," Searchinger said. "Much of
the spending is too poorly focused to gain real environmental
benefits, nor can it make up for the terrible effects of huge farm
subsidies. These payments will only drive farmers to plow up
valuable habitat and use more chemicals in order to meet the bill's
demands for more overproduction."
"The real loser today is
the nation's environment and all those farmers and ranchers who are
committed to being good stewards of the land. Farmers who want to
play a role in protecting water quality, improving wildlife habitat
or preventing sprawl have now been passed over in favor of large
commodity crop producers in a handful of states," said Faber. "Under
this bill, the majority of farmers wishing to protect the
environment will continue to be left empty-handed when they seek
federal aid for conservation."
### Environmental Defense, a leading national
nonprofit organization based in New York, represents more than
300,000 members. Since 1967 we have linked science, economics, and
law to create innovative, equitable, and cost-effective solutions to
the most urgent environmental problems.
www.environmentaldefense.org | |
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