The 2007 Farm Bill Examined by Congress

Congress is now debating the 2007 Farm Bill – a law that will govern our farm, food, and conservation policy for the next five years. Despite its name, this bill affects the lives of all Americans, whether they live in a rural or urban community. This broad legislation will impact:

• the availability of food stamps for low-income families;

• the research agenda for public agricultural research;

• investments in food safety;

• economic development in rural areas;

• government support to the people who grow and harvest our food; and efforts to conserve our soil, rivers, and forests.

This month, Congress will decide what programs to extend, revise, eliminate, or create in this Farm Bill, which expires in September 2007. We encourage you to learn more about this important bill in this guide from Oxfam America (PDF).