"rachael simpson" wrote in message
...
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 27, 2007

Media Contacts:
April Slayton (202) 225-6872
Scott Kuschmider (202) 225-1496

U.S. House of Representatives Passes Historic Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a new
Farm Bill that makes historic investments in fruit and
vegetable production, conservation, nutrition and renewable energy while
maintaining a strong safety net for America's farmers and
ranchers.

"This Farm Bill is about much more than farms. It is about the food we
eat, the clothes we wear, and increasingly the fuel we will
use. It assures that we will have a safe, strong food supply now and for
years to come," Chairman Peterson said.

"I am proud of the balanced and forward-looking Farm Bill that we have
passed supporting conservation, nutrition, rural, renewable
energy, labor, and farm country."

Important highlights of the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) include:
. Investing more than $1.6 billion in priorities to strengthen and support
the fruit and vegetable industry in the United States. A
new section for Horticulture and Organic Agriculture includes nutrition,
research, pest management and trade promotion programs.
. Implementing Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for fruit, vegetables
and meat after years of delay.
. Expanding the USDA Snack Program, which helps schools provide healthy
snacks to students during after-school activities to all 50
states and continuing the DOD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which
provides a variety of fresh produce to schools.
. Strengthening and enhancing the food stamp program by reforming benefit
rules to improve coverage of food costs and expand access
to the program with additional funding support.
. Including key provisions that invest in rural communities nationwide,
including economic development programs and access to
broadband telecommunication services.


I'll be darned or whatever. So us'ns in rural areas can get broadband soon
if the bill passes? Call me tight, but I ain't paying 70 bucks a month for
broadband satellite. All the while city folks are paying 100 bucks a month
for TV/phone/high speed internet package. Well, maybe not. I don't live on
a farm. Nor, a "rural community". Another decade of dial-up.
Dave