FW: Farm to School ACTION REQUEST

Hi all,

Yesterday, I sent out notice of a Farm to School bill introduced by Senator Leahy (VT). This bill, known as the Growing Farm to School Programs Act, would provide funds for technical assistance and start up funds for Farm to School programs through competitive grants.

 

To follow up on this, please see the action alert below. This email was not originally sent to Michigan because, as you'll notice, there are no co-sponsors from Michigan on this bill. The National Farm to School organization is hoping to get the co-sponsorship of Michigan's Senator Stabenow, a key member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, on this bill, which will be included in the Child Nutrition Act reauthorization scheduled to be taken up very soon.

 

If you would like to support this Farm to School bill and see Sen Stabenow support this bill as well, please contact Sen Stabenow's office between now and Monday at 202.224.4822. Ask to speak to the staffer working on Child Nutrition to recommend that Sen Stabenow co-sponsor the Growing Farm to School Programs Act and to recommend full funding of $50 million dollars to support Farm to School programs, rather than the $25 million funding that is being discussed in committee now.

 

I'll keep you posted as I learn more!

 

Thanks,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

 

------ Forwarded Message
From: Jeff Eschmeyer <jeff@foodsecurity.org>
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:49:55 -0400

Subject: Farm to School ACTION REQUEST

Hello All,
 
Hope you're all doing well.  We are reaching out for you to take a very specific and IMPORTANT action for farm to school in the next 48 hours.
 
We learned today that the Senate agriculture committee is going to be marking up the Child Nutrition Act next Wednesday (3/24/10).   We also have learned that the current language that Chairman Lincoln is using includes $25 million for farm to school.  It's great to have farm to school included, but the level is half of the $50 million that we all have been pushing for.

You're receiving this e-mail because your Senator is on the Agriculture committee and has also cosponsored Senator Leahy's farm to school bill.
 
We would greatly appreciate you contacting their office.  We need you to thank them for their support and co-sponsoring the Leahy farm to school bill <http://www.farmtoschool.org/press-detail.php?press_id=27> , and also urge them to continue to fight for the full $50 million in committee action next week.
 
We need these Senators who support the bill, S.3123, and are on the committee to tell the chairwoman they want it funded at the full amount.

Here are the Senators. We need you to call your member's office and ask to speak to the staffer handling Child Nutrition issues (or ask for them by name if you know them):
 
Harkin (IA) – 202.224.3254
Brown (OH) – 202.224.2315
Casey (PA) – 202.224.6324
Klobuchar (MN) – 202.224.3244
Bennet (CO) – 202.224.5852
Gillibrand (NY) – 202. 224.4451
 
The timing of this action is unfortunately somewhat confusing because Senator Leahy just introduced his farm to school bill yesterday, and we have not sent out a grassroots action alert yet.  However, because of the compressed timeline with committee consideration next week we thought it best to focus on this technical but VERY IMPORTANT ACTION first to specific grasstops leaders like yourself.  We will send out a broad grassroots action alert to gather more cosponsors shortly as well.
 
Please pass this along to anybody else in your state who could make a call and help us in these efforts. Additionally, please let us know what you hear back from your Senator so we know what additional follow-up might be needed.
 
If you have questions on this request please don't hesitate to e-mail or call our office at 202.543.8602.
 
Best,
Jeff and Megan

--
Jeff Eschmeyer
Associate Policy Director
Community Food Security Coalition
110 Maryland Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002
www.foodsecurity.org
Phone: (202) 543-8602
Fax: (202) 543-0978

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