House Committee Approves Cut to Agriculture Subsidies

Media Contacts
Brad Ashwell

Florida PIRG

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2011— Statement of Florida PIRG Public Health Advocate Elizabeth Hitchcock on the House Appropriations Committee’s vote to approve an amendment to the 2012 Agriculture appropriations bill  to limit agriculture subsidies called direct payments to farmers with adjusted gross incomes lower than $250,000.

“Every year, billions of taxpayer dollars are directed toward agribusiness — artificially driving down the cost of fats and sugars by subsidizing commodity crops like corn and soybeans. Meanwhile, the prices of fruits and vegetables, grown with relatively little government support, have steadily increased by nearly 40% in the past 20 years.

“We can take important steps toward curbing childhood obesity by curbing taxpayer subsidies to agribusiness that make a box of Twinkies cheaper than a bag of carrots.

Rep. Flake’s amendment is a good step forward for our children’s health and our nation’s fiscal health.  U.S. PIRG calls on the House to support the amendment on the floor.  We hope to see further cuts to agriculture subsidies as Congress reauthorizes the Farm Bill.”

Topics
staff | TPIN

You can be part of the solution

Grassroots support powers the consumer advocacy and action that win solutions to plastic waste, toxic contamination of our food and water, and so much more. That’s what supporting PIRG is all about. We work for you. You make the difference.

Donate