Farm Bill Resources: Prep for Listening Sessions
Background
The U.S. Congress is working to draft a new, five-year Farm Bill. “You may already know Farm Bill reauthorization is underway,” says John Johnson, ELCA Program Director for Domestic Policy. This impacts all of us who eat, including those of us who struggle with hunger. Beyond our bellies, we’ll feel the impact of farm bill policy decisions through our vocations. “Many of you work on farms, in businesses, and help to feed hungry people not only in the United States but around the world,” he observes.
What Is the Farm Bill and Why Now?
The farm bill is legislation that is critical to addressing hunger in the United States and globally. It covers federal nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), environment, trade, foreign aid and rural development. The bill impacts the lives of Lutherans and their communities – among us are farmers and ranchers and Indigenous communities and global partners and low income Americans.
Congress is preparing to reauthorize the bill in 2023. Each reauthorization provides an opportunity to improve or expand programs that ensure access to fresh and healthy food while addressing root causes of hunger.
What Is a Listening Session?
ELCA farm bill listening sessions are virtual gatherings where ministry leaders, members of congregations, and those with valuable lived experiences gather our opinions and experiences informed by faith values on stewardship, justice and serving our neighbor. This input will equip one another and the many communities of this church for farm bill advocacy that reflects those values, including our ELCA Witness in Society advocacy staff. These viewpoints, opportunities, concerns and hopes for a future farm bill will inform ELCA advocacy and help shape the ultimate law that Congress passes.
When Are They Happening & How Can I Register?
At this time, three, 1.5 hour listening sessions are scheduled in April 2023. Register for any, but each session will feature some discussion specific to the region of a particular time zone.
Eastern & Central Time Zone focus
Tuesday, April 18 – 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT
Register – https://bit.ly/ELCAfarmbilllisteningEasternCentral
Pacific Time Zone focus
Friday, April 21 – 12 noon PT [3 p.m. ET)
Register – https://bit.ly/ELCAfarmbilllisteningPacific
Mountain Time Zone focus
Tuesday, April 25 – 6 p.m. MT (8 p.m. ET)
Register – https://bit.ly/ELCAfarmbilllisteningMountain
Enfoque nacional bilingüe (español/inglés)
Miércoles 24 de mayo – 18.00 horas MT (20.00 horas ET)
Inscríbase – https://bit.ly/ELCAreunionLeyAgricolaEl equipo de incidencia política federal de la ELCA desea solicitar la colaboración de diversos sectores de la ELCA que deseen participar en una sesión de sensibilización sobre la Ley Agrícola. Esta legislación es clave para abordar la problemática de la conservación y el hambre tanto en Estados Unidos como en el resto del mundo. Estas sesiones son reuniones virtuales en las que los líderes de los ministerios, los miembros de las congregaciones y aquellos con valiosas experiencias vividas proporcionarán información al equipo de Witness in Society en Washington, DC. Sus puntos de vista, iniciativas, inquietudes y esperanzas respecto a la futura ley agrícola servirán para informar nuestra incidencia y ayudarán a dar forma a la ley final que se apruebe en el Congreso. ¡Dialoguemos y actuemos junta/os!
Resources
Download:
Farm Bill Introduction (ELCA Advocacy, 2018, prepared as the prior reauthorization process was underway)
Fact Sheet: Farm Bill International (Bread for the World)
Nutrition: Building a Healthy, Equitable and Sustainable Food System via the Farm Bill (Bread for the World)
Links:
ELCA Farm Bill Resources: https://blogs.elca.org/advocacy/elca-farm-bill-listening-sessions/
Farm Bill Invitation/Introduction video (John Johnson, Program Director, Domestic Policy, ELCA)
National Sustainable Farm Bill What Is the Farm Bill?: From Seed to Plate, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition