[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 82 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LOCAL FOOD AND FARM ACT

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2007

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, this year we have an opportunity to 
reform our nation's farm policies, and a fundamental element of my 
vision to do this is the Local Food and Farm Act. By increasing the 
availability of fresh foods in cities, schools, and underserved 
communities, my bill not only strengthens market opportunities for 
local fanners and ranchers, but it also protects the environment and 
gets healthy food into our communities.
  This legislation, which I am introducing today with Reps. Nancy 
Boyda, Steve Kagen, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bobby Rush, Donald Payne, Jan 
Schakowsky, Tom Allen, strengthens and expands existing programs that 
support value-added agriculture and fanners markets, promote the 
availability and affordability of healthy and fresh foods, increase 
fruits and vegetables in school meals, and remove barriers that keep 
local fanners from selling products into schools. It also establishes a 
new program to provide innovative financing for the processing and 
distribution businesses that create local jobs and are best-suited to 
help innovative, small and midsized farmers and ranchers take advantage 
of local and regional markets.
  Increasing the availability of healthy and fresh foods in our 
communities is critical to improving the overall health and food 
security of the United States. By growing and distributing some of 
these foods locally and regionally, we can create profitable markets 
for many small and midsized family fanners and ranchers, help to 
preserve farmland, and protect the environment with reduced 
transportation costs and more sustainable farming practices.

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