CONTRIBUTED BY SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
With your support, our campaign to repeal the Monsanto Protection Act is being heard loud and clear in Washington. Over 226,448 people have now signed on to our growing grassroots movement, including over 78,342 via MoveOn.org.
Tonight, the Farm Bill passed the U.S. Senate. It does many good and important things. In fact, nearly 80% of the funds – $760 billion over 10 years – will provide food assistance for needy families.
And we also made important progress in our fight to roll back the Monsanto Protection Act. Senator Debbie Stabenow, chair of the Agriculture Committee, has made a personal commitment to me – speaking for the record on the Senate floor. The Monsanto Protection Act expires at the end of September. Chairman Stabenow agreed to oppose any effort to extend it in the farm bill conference report or this year’s appropriations bills.
This is important, because the House has yet to take up the Farm Bill and you’d better believe that Monsanto’s allies in the House will not only defend it, but will work to extend and expand the Monsanto Protection Act.
I can’t express to you how grateful I am for your support. This victory belongs to you. And while we take a small measure of satisfaction today, know that tomorrow, we’ll get back in the trenches and keep up the fight.
Onward,
Senator Jeff Merkley
