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Contact: Scott Faber 202 387-3500
David Cherry 202 387-3500
Senior House Democrats, led by
Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), today sent a letter to Reps. Richard
Gephardt and Charles Stenholm, urging them to support $4.4 billion
in annual Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation funding
during Farm Bill negotiations.
Environmental Defense praised the leadership in support of
conservation by Democratic Reps. Dingell, Bonior, Conyers, DeLauro,
Dicks, Hoyer, Kaptur, Kildee, Kind, Levin, Lowey, Miller, Obey,
Oberstar, Rahall, Slaughter, Bennie Thompson, Mike Thompson and
Waxman, who joined the letter endorsing the conservation title of
the Senate Farm Bill.
The letter urged Gephardt, the Minority Leader, and Stenholm, the
senior Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, to support
Senate Farm Bill wildlife conservation provisions, including $246
million in annual average funding for the Wildlife Habitat
Incentives Program and a new $1 billion program to resolve conflicts
between farmers and endangered fish.
"With the help of Reps. Gephardt and Stenholm, the next Farm Bill
can finally reward farmers and ranchers when they restore wildlife
habitat, improve water quality or serve as the frontline against
sprawl," said Environmental Defense water resource specialist Scott
Faber.
More than 150 Democrats voted for an unsuccessful amendment to
the House Farm Bill that would have dedicated $5.4 billion annually
for USDA conservation programs. The amendment, offered by Reps.
Dingell, Kind, Boehlert, and Gilchrest, was defeated 226 to 200.
Most farmers are not eligible for grain subsidies, so
conservation payments help boost the income of all farmers,
including dairy farmers, ranchers and fruit and vegetable
producers.
"Rep. Dingell recognizes that the next Farm Bill should help all
farmers and all regions, while also meeting our most important
environmental challenges," Faber said.
### 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 | 
