The farm bill
The Washington Times
March 15, 2008
I read with interest the March 6 Op-Ed by David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World ("A compromise farm bill"). People of faith have been actively advocating for, and paying close attention to the process of, bringing forth a better, more equitable farm bill. As diverse as we are, the message to our elected representatives is clear: Farm policy is a moral issue because it can positively or adversely affect the most needy, hungry and poor people in our country and in many developing countries, as well. The allocation of federal dollars should shore up our tattered "safety net," and the right to good, safe food must not be bargained away. In the United States, more than 35 million people, including 12.6 million children, live in households that experience hunger or the risk of hunger, and many of these are rural families and working poor.
Tough spending choices must be made. Surely we as a nation know that we should give a big boost of help to struggling Americans who need it the most by stopping huge payments to those who need it the least. Guided by our faith and our sense of right and wrong, we know that it is immoral, unconscionable and bad judgment to skimp on programs that help hungry people so that millions of dollars can continue to go to wealthy farmers and landowners.
The final farm bill should include permanent funding for nutrition programs at levels no less than those passed by the House. The choice is clear. The resolution is at hand. As the farm bill goes, so goes the fate of millions of hungry real people.
Sandra Champion
Hunger Action Enabler
National Capital Presbytery
Presbyterian Church, USA
Gaithersburg
