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Glass-Steagall: An Idea Worth Reconsidering |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2013
Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191
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Dan McEvily, 202-314-3104
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WASHINGTON (May 20, 2013) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson commends Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) for introducing legislation to reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act, which would help protect the U.S. economy from widespread collapse. Sen. Harkin’s bill was dropped in the Senate on May 13th – the 80th anniversary of the original enactment of Glass-Steagall.
“Congress must learn from the past in order to prevent future financial crises,” said Johnson. “The Federal Government, in its deregulatory zeal of the 1990s, repealed important laws like Glass-Steagall that separated commercial banking from investment banking. Doing so helped to set up the Great Recession.”
Glass-Steagall, or the Banking Act of 1933, prevented affiliations between banking and investment firms that could collapse simultaneously in a crisis. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 repealed these provisions. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 made some improvements, but stopped short of the safeguards provided by Glass-Steagall.
“Sen. Harkin and Rep. Kaptur deserve great thanks for bringing these reforms back to the table and I urge all members of Congress to support prudent financial protections.”
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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NFU Hails Survey Results that Consumers Support COOL |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2013
Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191
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Dan McEvily, 202-314-3104
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WASHINGTON (May 16, 2013) – NFU applauded the results of a recent survey conducted by the Consumer Federation of America that found that a large majority of Americans continue to strongly support mandatory country of origin labeling.
Ninety percent of a representative sample of 1,000 adult Americans favored, either strongly or somewhat, requiring food sellers to indicate on the package label the country of origin of fresh meat they sell. Additionally, 87 percent of adults favored, either strongly or somewhat, requiring food sellers to indicate on the package label the country or countries in which animals were born, raised and processed. The poll also found that 90 percent of adults favored, either strongly or somewhat, requiring food sellers to indicate on the package label the country or countries in which animals were born and raised and the fact that the meat was processed in the United States..
“The survey results are a further indication of what we have known for some time: Consumers overwhelmingly want to know more about the origins of their food, and farmers and ranchers want to provide this information,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. ”These findings, coupled with the recent withdrawal of two short-sighted amendments to the Senate and House’s respective farm bills that would have negatively impacted Country-of-Origin Labeling, are promising indications that country-of-origin labeling is vitally important and here to stay.”
Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling, also known as COOL, was passed as a part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and amended in the 2008 Farm Bill, going into effect in 2008, with regulations being put forward in 2009.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) recently required the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) to adjust its rules requiring American retailers to label certain foods with the country (or countries) in which the animals are born, raised, or slaughtered. The WTO said that while the United States can require meat labeling, current U.S. COOL rules do not meet WTO standards. The WTO has given the United States until May 23, 2013, to bring its COOL rules into compliance.
The telephone survey was undertaken by ORC International May 9 to 12, 2013, using a split sample of landlines and cell phones. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points. The survey results are available here and the survey methodology is available here.
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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House Ag Committee Concludes Markup, NFU Encouraged by 2013 Farm Bill Momentum |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2013
Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191
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Dan McEvily, 202-314-3104
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WASHINGTON (May 15, 2013) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued a statement following the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture’s passage of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (2013 Farm Bill) by a 36-10 vote this evening:
“We are very pleased with the passage of the farm bill out of the House Agriculture Committee. This puts us one step closer to having a five-year farm bill signed into law before the approaching September 30 deadline.
“Today’s markup included several significant accomplishments that are important to our members. The language included in the commodity title that provides protections to family farmers both when disasters strike and during times of long-term price collapse is crucial. We strongly support House language providing for price protection.
“We are also happy that the Committee streamlined the conservation title, which included provisions that combined certain programs while making them more efficient.
“We are happy that the committee rejected the Goodlatte amendment that would have eliminated the stabilization portion of the Dairy Security Act. It would be irresponsible, and expensive for American taxpayers, to include the margin protection program without the stabilization program to serve as a safety valve to prevent over-production and a resulting price collapse.
“NFU is deeply disappointed in the passage of Rep. Conaway’s amendment that repeals certain Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) protections for farmers. The amendment prevents GIPSA from doing any further work enforcing farmer-friendly provisions stemming from the 2008 Farm Bill and would undercut the enforcement of farmer protections under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
“We are disappointed that the House bill did not include any mandatory funding for renewable energy programs and hope that an amendment will be offered on the House floor to include funding to ensure support for domestically produced fuels, which would benefit rural America and the overall U.S. economy.
“U.S. farmers, ranchers and rural Americans need the certainty that comes with a comprehensive five-year bill. Over the last week momentum has been building in both the House and Senate. We urge Congress to complete this five-year farm bill before the current temporary extension expires in only four months.”
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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NFU Outlines Farm Bill Priorities for House Committee on Agriculture |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2013
Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191
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Dan McEvily, 202-314-3104
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WASHINGTON (May 14, 2013) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture ahead of Wednesday’s scheduled 2013 Farm Bill markup, outlining priorities and official positions on proposed amendments.
“NFU is pleased that the House Agriculture Committee is taking up the 2013 Farm Bill,” said Johnson. “We are encouraged by the language included in the commodity title that provides protections to family farmers when disasters strike and during times of long-term price collapse. We oppose any modifications that would undermine the integrity of the Price Loss Coverage program.”
Also outlined in the letter are the following positions:
- NFU supports Rep. Walz’s amendment (number 3) to provide $800 million of mandatory funding to the farm bill energy title.
- NFU opposes Rep. Conaway’s amendment (number 5) that would undo certain Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) protections for farmers.
- NFU supports Rep. Enyart’s amendment (number 12) that would encourage the U.S. Air Force to develop a program providing competitive grants to existing biofuel research centers.
- NFU opposes Rep. Goodlatte’s amendment (number 17) to dismantle the sugar program.
- NFU opposes Rep. Austin Scott’s amendment (number 20) to eliminate Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements for livestock and poultry.
- NFU supports Rep. Courtney’s amendment (number 51) to restore mandatory funding to the National Organic Program.
- NFU opposes Rep. Goodlatte’s amendment (number 56) to remove stabilization programs from the dairy reform language in the committee’s draft.
- NFU supports Rep. Noem’s amendment (number 67) that would allow Rural Energy for America Program funds to be used for the installation of blender pumps.
- NFU supports Rep. Costa’s amendment (number 69) to restore funding to the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program.
- NFU opposes Rep. Lujan Grisham’s amendment (number 83) to prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption.
“NFU urges House leadership to take the bill to the full House floor as soon as possible so that a five-year farm bill can be accomplished prior to the approaching September 30 deadline.”
Click here to read the letter.
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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NFU and JA Zenchu Statement on the Lima Round of TPP Negotiations |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2013
Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191
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Dan McEvily, 202-314-3104
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WASHINGTON (May 14, 2013) – In advance of the Lima round of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union president, and Akira Banzai, president of Japan’s Zenchu, the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA Zenchu), issued the following statement:
“As leaders of organizations representing family farmers in Japan and the United States, we strongly urge TPP negotiators to fully consider the potentially damaging effects brought about by an unbalanced trade agreement. The TPP raises serious questions of national sovereignty, as the talks cover important issues for the citizens of each country, ranging from food safety to health care.
“Agriculture must be treated differently from other economic sectors in trade agreements, due to the fundamental importance of food security, rural economies, and cultural considerations. Both countries have sensitive agricultural products that must be respected.
“Moreover, our organizations support affordable and accessible universal health care systems as a fundamental human right. In this context, the TPP should not dismantle or damage any existing health care programs in participating countries.
“Greater transparency in the negotiating process and study of the effects of the TPP are necessary. As long as the TPP negotiations are conducted under the current framework of secrecy, we fear that family farmers will be harmed.
“Thank you for your consideration of these principles.”
Click here to view statement.
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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