Rural Coalition Joins Latinx Organizations in Denouncing Administration's Decision to Dismantle the Clean Water Rule

Sourced from http://www.greenlatinos.org/clean_water_rule_repeal

Washington, D.C. --- In response to the release of the Trump Administration’s final rule repealing the Clean Water Rule, eight organizations representing and serving Latinx communities across the nation stand together in rejecting this change, which is just one in a long line of proposals which weaken the regulatory protections currently in place that safeguard our water, health, and livelihoods.

The Clean Water Act was enacted to provide every American, without exception, with fishable and swimmable waters. While our waterways have come a long way since passage of the Clean Water Act, millions of Americans and a disproportionately high number of Latinx communities are still regularly threatened by water pollution. The Clean Water Rule, implemented in 2015, was an important step in the right direction, helping ensure that all communities would be included in the ultimate goal of the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Rule, supported by over one million public comments, strengthened safeguards against water pollution from industry, and other polluters. The Trump Administration’s decision to dismantle it is placing the interests of polluting industries above American families, and will place the water of millions of latinx community members at risk. 

Lorette Picciano, Executive Director of The Rural Coalition, issues the following statement: 

"As producers, farmworkers, tribal and rural people of the land we see water as our lifeblood and know how it is cared for upstream affects river systems downstream. We don’t want to return to the day when two-thirds of our waterways were too polluted – by mining operations that leaked the arsenic that killed all the fish in the Alamosa River in Colorado; by the coal ash, dumped for years into the Dan River by Duke Energy; or by the tides of phosphorus washed from fertilized farms and feedlots upstream that pollute the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico.  Our Coalition stands with the hundreds of thousands of Americans and organizations who supported restoring the full protection of the Clean Water Act to the countless miles of tributary and seasonal streams, wetlands and rivers that sustain our communities and against giant corporate agriculture and real estate industry who, with this rule, are sacrificing ecologically valuable wetlands and streams across the nation.”

Webinar: Who is Behind the Genetically Engineered American Chestnut

The Rural Coalition, representing over 50 community-based organizations working in diverse land-based communities across the nation, has raised concerns over many years about protecting the health of forests and grasslands. On April 24, 2019, we shared with you an advanced notice of the release of a groundbreaking white paper on Genetically Engineered American Chestnut Trees by the STOP GE Trees Campaign.

We now invite you to view the digital telepress conference that originally aired May 14, 2019, featuring speakers from the Global Justice Ecology Project, BiofuelWatch, Indigenous Environmental Network, Rural Coalition, and Lois Breault-Melican: former board member of the American Chestnut Foundation. The panel discusses the findings of the white paper, the response from Indigenous groups, and the resignation of American Chestnut Foundation board members.

Please see the GJEP webinar details below.

CONTACT: +1.314.210.1322

steve@globaljusticeecology.org

WEBINAR DETAILS

TELEPRESS CONFERENCE

“Who is Behind the Effort to Legalize Genetically Engineered American Chestnut Trees and Why it Matters"

Scathing new White Paper on GE American chestnut trees, Resignation of American Chestnut Foundation Board members, response from Indigenous groups and who is funding the research will be discussed

WHAT: A national network of organizations, scientists, naturalists, farmers, Indigenous Peoples and others will hold an online telepress conference to discuss the findings of their recently released white paper titled, Biotechnology for Forest Health? The Test Case of the Genetically Engineered Chestnut, which addresses the effort to win government approval for the unregulated planting of genetically engineered American Chestnut trees in the wild. 

BiofuelWatch’s Dr. Rachel Smolker, co-author of the white paper, is one of the telepress conference speakers. A recent debate between Dr. Smolker and proponents of the deregulation plan occurred during NPR’s  April 29th On Point program. 

Lois Breault-Melican, a former board member of the American Chestnut Foundation who publicly resigned over the organization’s support of the plan will join the conference.

WHO: Global Justice Ecology Project, BiofuelWatch, Indigenous Environmental Network, Rural Coalition, and Lois Breault-Melican: former board member of the American Chestnut Foundation.

WHERE: View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfP4cJ4J1do

WHY: “UN scientists are about to issue a scathing 1,800 page report on the dire state of the environment,” stated Anne Petermann, GJEP Executive Director. “At the same time, corporations and researchers are promoting the unregulated release of new, unproven GE trees into forests. Our new white paper highlights the risks of this plan. These transgenic trees are ‘totally outside the limits of biologic experience’ to quote Rachel Carson, who warned of the devastating impacts of the hundreds of new, unproven and ultimately dangerous chemicals entering the environment every year. We must not repeat the same mistake and make the ecological crisis worse by releasing GE trees into forests.”

Bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill Makes Critical Investments for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers, Farm Land Preservation, and Ensures Healthy Food Access for All Communities

For immediate release

December 11, 2018

Contacts: Lorette Picciano, RC Executive Director, Rural Coalition, 202-628-7161, Email: lpicciano@ruralco.org,

John Zippert, Rural Co Chairperson, Alabama Association of Cooperatives, 205-657-0271, email: Jzippert@aol.com

The Rural Coalition and its members applaud the completion of the House and Senate conference report to the 2018 Farm Bill, which is the last draft before the 2018 Farm Bill becomes law. The report is a strong indication of Congress’s legislative efforts to ensure that our nation’s African American, Asian Pacific, Latino, and Tribal Farmers and Ranchers and rural communities are well equipped to meet the growing demands for healthy foods and farm land preservation. 

Rooted in the stronger bipartisan Senate version of the bill crafted under the leadership of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman, Senator Pat Roberts, and Ranking Member, Senator Debbie Stabenow, the package ensures food access for all communities and retains funding and authority for the crucial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also increases support for the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives program and related initiatives to strengthen local food systems.

Of great significance to our communities, it makes critical new investments in tribal farmers and food systems and programs supporting the nation’s historically underserved, veteran and young farmers and ranchers, improves transparency in credit programs, removes barriers to cultivation of industrial hemp, strengthens local food and organic programs and establishes an Office of Urban Agriculture.

Specifically, the Conference Report

·      Extends SNAP funding as in the Nutrition Title in the Senate Bill without the very stiff and bureaucratic workfare requirements in the current House bill. Those provisions would create hunger and deepen poverty for vulnerable Americans, including children and families, and burden States with implementation and costs of constructing an underfunded bureaucratic infrastructure.

·      Provides Fair Access for Farmers and Ranchers who attempt to farm on “heirs property.” The conference report language ensures that more farmers — especially African-American farmers and farmers of color operating on land with undivided interests  — can finally access USDA programs that enable them to protect the soil and water, and continue to operate viable farms that feed their communities. This language, sponsored with thanks to Senators Doug Jones, Tim Scott and Tom Udall in the Senate, and Representatives Marcia Fudge, Sanford Bishop and Alma Adams in the House, was developed in cooperation with Rural Coalition with its members including the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Inc., Land Loss Prevention Project, and Rural Advancement Fund of the National Sharecroppers Fund, with critical support from the Uniform Laws Commission, the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts and support from the National Association of Conservation Districts.

·      Expands and Improves Opportunities for all Farmers to Access USDA Programs - The Conference Report includes language that creates the new Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach (FOTO) Program.  FOTO strengthens the historic Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program and also links it closely to the related Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program. The improved program provides permanent authority and permanent funding of $50 million annually, shared equally between the two programs. We thank Senators Tina Smith, Chris Van Hollen, Tom Udall, Reps. Michelle Lujan-Grisham, Ben Ray Lujan, Sanford Bishop and many others who led the effort to make these changes. And we especially credit the Senators Stabenow and Roberts and their staffs for their diligent efforts to permanently secure and fund this landmark program. 

·      Legalizes and regulates cultivation of Industrial Hemp by removing it from the controlled substances list and allowing tribes, states, and territories to establish regulatory structures within their boundaries that allow farmers and ranchers to produce a high-value cash crop while retaining federal farm program benefits that were previously not allowed.

·      Provides critical improvements in USDA direct lending credit policy by including equitable relief servicing options in order to protect producers against errors or mistakes made within the USDA direct lending program.

·      Authorizes the Farmer and Rancher Stress Assistance Network, which supports mental health resources and services to farmers and farmworkers who need them;

·      Creates a new Local Agricultural Market Program (LAMP) by merging authorities and providing baseline funding for a streamlined new program. Specifically the LAMP language links the previous Farmers Market Promotion Program, the Local Food Promotion Program and the Value-Added Producer Grants Program.

·      Establishes an Office of Urban Agriculture

“This bill turns the tide for African American and all other historically underserved farmers and ranchers,” said Rural Coalition Vice Chairperson Georgia Good, Executive Director of the Rural Advancement Fund of the National Sharecroppers Fund, which has worked since 1937 to improve the quality of life in rural communities in the South.  We are grateful to Senators Tim Scott (SC) and Doug Jones (AL) for opening a critical new door with their bill to allow families of multiple generations operating on inherited land to be allowed into the programs of USDA that all farmers need to thrive. We further thank Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (KA) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (MI) for their patient and persistent leadership to work with us all to include these sections in a landmark package that values all rural communities and peoples.”

According to Rural Coalition Chairperson John Zippert of the Alabama Association of Cooperatives, “The Federation of Southern Cooperatives estimates more than 40% of black owned land is in heirs property status.  Including the Fair Access Act in this bill enables people in states that have the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property laws to access USDA programs more directly, with less red tape.”

“We have been working hard for decades to bring equity to the farm bill in terms of treatment for Black farmers and other farmers of color to build cooperatives and to uplift low-wealth communities. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 addresses continuing inequities and supports the quality hands-on assistance needed to make sure the 2018 Farm Bill reaches everyone," he continued.

Particular thanks are due to the Senators Stabenow and Roberts and their staffs for dedicated efforts to refine legislation and push it to the finish line, and to Rep. Conaway and Peterson’s staffs for working with them to make the important changes necessary to improve opportunities for all farmers. We also thank the many other Senators and members of Congress who led in developing key sections of this legislation.

“The Agricultural Improvement Act passed yesterday is a huge step forward,” said Rural Coalition Board Member Rudy Arredondo, President of the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association. “We are extremely happy that the Agriculture Committee leaders were able to stay focused on the essentials of as good a bipartisan farm bill as we can get in this political climate.”

Everyone in our nation who cares about a future for diverse farmers, ranchers and rural communities needs to call upon Congress and the President to assure swift passage and signing, and final enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill.

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The Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural is an alliance of farmers, farmworkers, indigenous, migrant and working people from the United States, Mexico, and beyond working together toward a new society that values unity, hope, people, and the land. 

With our strong roots in the movements for human, civil, indigenous, and farmworker rights, Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural members have for 40 years shared the belief that rural communities everywhere can have a better future and that community-based organizations who have long served the needs of rural communities and people have a fundamental role in building that future. Investments in their work will provide important returns to our economy, our environment, and our society. 

Over 200 Farm, Food and Rural Groups Endorse Agribusiness Merger Moratorium Bills

Broad and Diverse Coalition Urges Members of Congress to Cosponsor Landmark Legislation

For Immediate Release

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Washington, D.C. — Today, a broad-based coalition of 213 farm, food, rural, faith and consumer advocacy organizations delivered a letter to Congress endorsing food and agribusiness merger moratorium bills and urging members of the House and Senate to cosponsor the legislation. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) introduced the Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act of 2018 companion bills this year (S.3404/H.R.6800).

“Corporate consolidation has long been one of the greatest challenges plaguing family farmers, ranchers and rural communities,” said National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson. “By allowing us to step back to evaluate and strengthen the United States’ antitrust framework, the merger moratorium is a meaningful first step in stemming the tide of concentration in the agriculture and food sectors. We applaud Senator Booker and Representative Pocan for introducing this legislation and urge other members of Congress to join the effort to pass this legislation.”

The legislation would impose an 18-month moratorium on the mega-mergers that have swept the agribusiness, food manufacturing and grocery industries. This wave of consolidation has contributed to falling farm prices, declining farm incomes, stagnant wages for food workers, raising food prices and economic stagnation in rural communities. 

“There are now just a few colossal companies reaping profits from their control of every link of the food chain,” said Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch. “Hyper-consolidation raises consumer prices while lowering the prices farmers receive. It eliminates choices for both farmers and eaters and undermines the resiliency and sustainability of the food system.”

The letter outlines why the legislation is sorely needed as the food and agribusiness industries have been on a merger and acquisition spree. Major seed, fertilizer, food processing and grocery chains have merged to form some of the biggest food and agribusiness companies of all time.

“With the recent onslaught of agricultural mega-mergers and acquisitions, including those of multinational giants like ChemChina and Syngenta, Bayer and Monsanto, and Marfrig and National Beef, there has never been a more pressing time for Congress to take action,” said Joe Maxwell, Executive Director of the Organization for Competitive Markets. “OCM is encouraged by the groundswell of organizational support and proud to stand with more than 200 groups calling for a crackdown on monopolistic corporate practices that hurt farmers, workers, consumers and our communities.”

The Booker-Pocan bill would put a strategic pause on merger combinations of over $176 million in sales or assets and establish a commission to study the impacts of consolidation in the food and agricultural sectors on farmers, rural communities and consumers. The commission would also recommend any necessary changes to federal antitrust statutes or other laws and regulations to restore a fair and competitive agricultural marketplace.

“The consolidation in the food and agribusiness sectors has disproportionately harmed smaller-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers that have had a harder time selling their farm products at fair prices to fewer, bigger corporate buyers,” said Lorette Picciano, Executive Director of the Rural Coalition. “The mega-merger trend also compounds a downward spiral in income, wages and working conditions for farmers, ranchers, farm and food chain workers, and small businesses, eroding rural economic vitality, creating less vibrant and less sustainable communities who are pitted against each other to survive. It is long past time for a pause to provide them the time and statutory tools they need to build the futures they want.”

The letter, signed by groups from 47 states, urged other Members of Congress to cosponsor the legislation to stop the mergers that threaten independent family farmers, consumers and communities.

“The unchecked wave of food company mergers has enabled and encouraged large corporations to raise prices and manipulate research and development, to the detriment of farmers and consumers,” said Thomas Gremillion, Director of the Food Policy Institute at the Consumer Federation of America. “This legislation is sorely needed to prevent a tsunami of grossly anticompetitive, anti-consumer merger proposals.”

A copy of the letter is available here:

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National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

Food & Water Watch champions healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people and advocate for a democracy that improves people’s lives and protects our environment. 

Organization for Competitive Markets is a national membership-based research and advocacy organization working for open and competitive markets and fair trade in America’s food and agricultural sectors.

The Rural Coalition, born of the civil rights, indigenous rights, and anti-poverty rural movements, has worked since 1978 to assure that diverse organizations from all regions, ethnic and racial groups, women and men, and youth and elders, have the opportunity to work together on the issues that affect them all and assure the representation and involvement of every sector of this diverse fabric of rural peoples.

The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is an association of non-profit consumer organizations that was established in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education.

Contacts:

Hannah Packman, National Farmers Union, (202) 554-1600, hpackman@nfudc.org

Darcey Rakestraw, Food & Water Watch, (202) 683-2467, drakestraw@fwwatch.org

Angela Huffman, Organization for Competitive Markets, (614) 390-7552, ahuffman@competitivemarkets.com

Lorette Picciano, Rural Coalition, (703) 624-8869, lpicciano@ruralco.org

Thomas Gremillion, Consumer Federation of America, (202) 939-1010, tgremillion@consumerfed.org