ELCA Advocacy Action Alert: Prioritize Worker Well-Being and the Future of Our Farm and Food Systems

An inclusive Farm Bill is not just a moral imperative, it keeps up with the reality of people earning a living in agriculture in rural America. Last month, the House and the Senate released competing visions for the Farm Bill with differences that will need to be resolved further down the line. The Senate proposal, released by Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, includes a historic expansion of initiatives honoring the people who are responsible for feeding the nation—including small farms, beginning and minority farmers, and grocery, farm, and food workers.

The Senate proposal:

•          Establishes an ombudsman at the U.S. Department for Agriculture to assist with civil rights matters;

•          Provides $50 million in education and training opportunities for the next generation of farmers;

•          Establishes the Office of Small Farms;

•          Provides $50 million for a new program titled the “Grocery, Farm and Food Stabilization Grant Program” to help food and farmworkers during times of disaster;

•         Reimagines the role of Food System Workforce Coordinator, and establishes a new liaison to work with the coordinator and farm and food system workers to improve worker safety;

•          And more!

In May, Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, offered the House’s proposal, titled the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024”. The proposal emphases the importance of the farm safety net and rural investments; nonetheless, many stakeholders have pointed to concerns about significant cuts to programs. The House proposal shares the removal of restrictions on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for people with drug-related offenses and civil rights ombudsman in common with the Senate proposal. While the House bill went through full committee mark-up on May 23, the Senate doesn’t have a mark-up scheduled yet.

Recent polling shows that 80% of people nationally support more and better workplace protections for essential workers in the farming and food industries. The challenges confronting farm workers due to climate change, along with other hazards affecting workers throughout the food supply chain, prompt us to explore how a more inclusive Farm Bill can ensure a safe and sufficient livelihood for individuals dependent on this work. And, to have more resilient farm and food systems, policymakers must address a wide range of vulnerabilities faced by workers.

A key principle of sustaining agriculture is increasing the share of the bounties of farming the land across the spectrum. This spectrum includes small farmers, new and minority farmers (women, veterans, Latino, Black, and others), farm workers and other food workers as well as rural communities. An inclusive farm bill honors the meaningful participation of all key contributors to our essential farm and food systems. As the ELCA social statement Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All points out, "Agriculture is basic to the survival and security of people throughout the world. Through the calling of agriculture, farmers produce the grain for our daily bread and the rest of our food supply... Farmers face the challenge of producing this food in ways that contribute to the regeneration of the land and the vitality of rural communities. At the same time, society as a whole must address the high levels of risk farmers face...".

Advocate for an inclusive Farm Bill. Urge your members of Congress to support the livelihood of farm workers, food workers and new farmers!