Is your senator on the gravy train?
Update, Dec. 12: Yesterday, the Senate voted on the Fresh Amendment, which lost by a vote of 37 to 58. Despite the loss, the amount of support for the amendment represents great progress on farm subsidy reform from both sides of the aisle. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, support for the Fresh Amendment represents one of the biggest moves against crop subsidies in the 75-year history of farm programs. Read the article > Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) on October 23 introduced the FRESH Amendment, a bill that would have reduced federal subsidies that fund foods high in fat, cholesterol, and sugar. Currently, more than 80 percent of food production subsidies support meat, sugar, oil, dairy products, and animal feed. Read a summary of the FRESH Amendment (PDF)> It may surprise you to learn that the federal government buys up millions of dollars worth of bacon, burgers, and fatty meat and dairy products and dumps them in our schools and food assistance programs. This practice persists, in part, because companies making these unhealthy products give millions of dollars to members of Congress through political action committees. Until these practices end, stopping childhood obesity will remain a difficult challenge.
Help us stop this vicious cycle of funds for fat. Tell Congress it’s time for the government to stop funding foods that contribute to America’s growing rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other diet-related illnesses. IS YOUR SENATOR ON THE GRAVY TRAIN? More information Why the Farm Bill is important
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