May 2, 2008 - BREAKING NEWS ON THE FARM BILL:

Senate/House conferees approved $10.365 billion in new ten-year funding for the nutrition title of the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) in a late night meeting last night. Conferees left open the issue of privatization of eligibility determination processes and eight non-nutrition title issues. They also noted that budget scoring due from the Congressional Budget Office may require revisiting some decisions. Another short-term extension of current farm program law (H.R. 2954) gives lawmakers until May 16th to get a reauthorization passed and signed. While behind-the-scenes negotiations are expected top continue in the meantime, conferees do not expect to reconvene for a public meeting earlier than 1pm on May 6th.

Reuters Reports on Nutrition Investments: "Two-thirds of the money in the farm bill would be spent on nutrition programs such as food stamps, the major U.S. anti-hunger program. Stewardship programs would gain $4 billion, specialty crops, $1.35 billion and biofuel development $900 million. 'These are steps that will help 10 million people,' said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut Democrat, who described changes in the food stamp program allowed by the new funding. The changes include a larger standard income deduction for food stamp recipients, raised to $144, a $10 increase, and indexed to inflation. The minimum food stamp benefit would be $14 a month, up $4, and indexed for inflation. Donations to food pantries would be raised to $240 million a year, up $100 million, and indexed to inflation.' See "White House warns farm law needs 'real reforms,'" by Charles Abbott, Reuters, 5/2/08.

Use 1-800-826-9624 to Thank Members for Progress and to Build on Momentum: Call Members of Congress (via toll-free line 1-800-826-9624). (The toll-free line is made available by AARP). Thank Members for making progress on the Farm Bill nutrition title and urge them to pass a Farm Bill with the strongest possible nutrition title, including new investments for: 1) food stamp benefit increases (especially raising and indexing the $10 minimum monthly benefit and standard deduction); 2) greater food stamp access (especially raising and indexing household asset limits); and 3) boosting purchases in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)(raising and indexing funding).

April 29, 2008 - The Senate/House Farm Bill Conferees are expected to hold a public meeting TODAY, Tuesday, April 29th in hopes of finalizing the framework of a deal on a Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) that was announced last Friday and that would allocate $10.2 billion in new ten-year funding for the nutrition title. An extension of current farm law expires on May 2nd. Bad weather and travel problems reportedly led to cancellation of a meeting on Monday, April 28th. See Farm Bill Conference Delayed One Day by Air Travel Problems, CQ Today, 4/28/08.

Click here to access the audio connections on the House Committee on Agriculture Web page.

Use 1-800-826-9624 to Thank Members for Progress and Build on Momentum: Call Members of Congress via a toll-free line: 1-800-826-9624. (The toll-free line is made available by AARP).

Messages: Thank Members for making progress on the Farm Bill nutrition title and urge them to pass a Farm Bill with the strongest possible nutrition title, including new investments for: 1) food stamp benefit increases (especially raising and indexing the $10 minimum monthly benefit and standard deduction); 2) greater food stamp access (especially raising and indexing household asset limits); and 3) boosting purchases in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)(raising and indexing funding).

Talking Points About What’s at Stake: More than 35.5 million people in the U.S. live in households that face a constant struggle against hunger. Food stamp benefits average a mere $1 a person a meal; the minimum monthly food stamp benefit has been stuck at $10 for three decades. Food stamp household asset limits have been frozen for decades. Many food bank shelves are empty. The $11.5 billion in new ten-year spending level that the House approved for the nutrition title is critical to fund improvements in food stamp benefits, food stamp access, and increased TEFAP commodity purchases.

Targets: 1) Ask House/Senate conferees to support the strongest possible Farm Bill nutrition title. Conferees include a mix of Members from the Agriculture Committees and other Committees. 2) Urge other Members of Congress to contact their leaders and conferees to support the strongest possible nutrition title.

April 22, 2008 - The next Farm Bill conference meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, at 4:30 p.m., in 345 Cannon House Office Building.

Click here to access the audio connections on the House Committee on Agriculture Web page.

Most hearings/meetings occur in the main Committee hearing room (1300 Longworth House Office Building), with the audio connection to the auxiliary hearing room (1302 Longworth House Office Building) used when two hearing/meetings overlap between the schedule of the Full Committee and a Subcommittee or the meetings of two Subcommittees.

Please check the Committee Schedule to verify time and locations of event. For audio links, you will hear music beginning approximately half an hour before the scheduled start of the hearing. Votes of the Congress requiring Members’ presence in the main Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives may delay the start of a hearing. Floor votes may also require a 20 to 30 minute recess during a hearing, subject to the call of the Committee Chair.

Hearings are broadcast as they occur. No audio or video archives of hearings are available.

April 20, 2008 - Farm Bill Negotiators Consider More Nutrition Funding; Calls Needed in Support of Food Stamp and TEFAP Investments

Call 1-800-826-9624 - Urge Congress Members to fund improvements in food stamp benefits, access and to boost purchases for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Negotiations over the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) are expected to continue at staff and Member levels, with the next public House/Senate Conference Committee session scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, at 10am eastern time. For details on a possible Web cast viewing of the session, go to agriculture.senate.gov.

Offers made to date reportedly would move the new ten-year funding for the nutrition title to $10 billion, nearer to the $11.5 billion level approved by the House in July 2007. This represents progress from earlier proposals to set that funding at $8.5 billion and $9.5 billion.

The House-approved $11.5 billion in new ten-year nutrition title spending is critical to improve food stamp benefits, food stamp access, and increased TEFAP commodity purchases.