June 15, 2012 The Honorable Harry Reid Majority Leader U.S.

Senate 522 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Debbie Stabenow Chairwoman Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry U.S. Senate 328A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC, 20510 The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader U.S. Senate 317 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Pat Roberts Ranking Member Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry U.S. Senate 328A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC, 20510

Dear Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell, Chairwoman Stabenow, and Ranking Member Roberts: On behalf of the new Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition, we are writing to urge you to bring the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012 (S.3240) up for a vote prior to the July 4 recess. The imminent expiration of the current statute at the end of the fiscal year, and the importance of the farm bill to both rural and urban America requires that the Senate demonstrate bold leadership that builds on the bipartisan legislation passed by the Senate Agriculture committee in May. Further, we urge you to prioritize your support for programs and policies that recognize and promote strong linkages between agriculture and protecting the publics health, and to reject amendments that would weaken nutrition and conservation programs. The Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition includes a diverse and allied group of organizations across the food and agriculture system that recognize the relationship between U.S. agriculture policies and the health of the American people. This relationship is multi-faceted and undeniable regarding the availability of, and access to, affordable nutritious food, health and the economy. With the reauthorization of the farm bill, Congress has the opportunity to act in support of public health while also supporting farm and rural economies. We support many of the provisions in S.3240, as drafted with strong bipartisan leadership of Chairman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts, to promote community food projects, including direct marketing opportunities, to improve nutrition and combat hunger through SNAP incentive programs, protecting funding for SNAP nutrition education to promote healthy choices, and to promote environmental health and sustainable farm land stewardship.

www.hfhpcoalition.org

June 15, 2012 Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell, Chairwoman Stabenow, and Ranking Member Roberts Re: The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012 (S.3240) Page 2

While we do have specific concerns about some provisions and omissions in the bill related to production and conservation policies and the proposed cuts to SNAP, we urge you to protect the important improvements in the underlying bill and to reject proposals that would weaken nutrition and conservation programs that are vital to farmers, the economy, and millions of vulnerable Americans. This bill will have a significant impact on nearly every American, from the 16 million Americans who rely on a strong agriculture economy for employment to the millions of children and struggling households who rely on nutrition programs to alleviate hunger and promote good health. We recognize the difficult fiscal and political challenges that Congress currently faces, and we urge you to continue to work together to bring this bill up for a vote so the work in both chambers can move toward enacting legislation before these programs expire at the end of the fiscal year. Your leadership is crucial to make this a farm bill that provides farmers and consumers the support needed for a strong farm and food economy, and to protect the most vulnerable from hunger and food insecurity, while also promoting improved health for the entire nation. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely,

Julia Freedgood Managing Director Farmland & Communities Initiatives American Farmland Trust Y. Armando Nieto Executive Director California Food and Justice Coalition Dr. Robert S. Lawrence Director Center for a Livable Future

Marice Ashe, JD, MPH Founder and CEO ChangeLab Solutions

David Wallinga, MD, MPA Senior Advisor in Science, Food and Health Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Matthew Marsom Vice President for Public Health Policy & Advocacy Public Health Institute

www.hfhpcoalition.org