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Federal Update: Summer 2005
By Bill Sanda
The 2007 Farm Bill Debate:
International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council
At a seminar on the upcoming U.S. Farm Bill debate, organized by the
International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council (IPC), former
Congressman Cal Dooley stated, "Trade is American farmers’
only real opportunity." IPC Chairman, Dr. Robert Thompson, pointed
out that population growth in developing countries will increase food
demand by 50 percent but economic growth in developing countries will
more than double food demand by 2050. Asia, with 29 percent of the arable
land and 53 percent of the population, will become a significant importer
of food.
David Beckman, president of Bread for the World, agreed, noting that
in the past US farmers supported food aid, but in the future, "US
farmers would do better to take a bet on feeding people in a growing
world market than take a bet on continued agricultural subsidies."
Craig Hill, vice chairman of the Iowa Farm Bureau, said that the biggest
risk in farming today is not the weather, but the mood of the Congress
when they write the farm bill over the next several years. Many of the
speakers supported reduced agricultural subsidies for U.S. farmers.
Highlighting the link between international trade agreements and domestic
policy reform, former European Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler,
said the European Union reformed the Common Agricultural Policy in the
early 1990s to allow it to play a more constructive role in trade negotiations. Philippine
farm leader, Raul Montemayor, called on the US to take the leadership
role and offer to reduce its "trade distorting" subsidies
in exchange for more market access from the developing countries. Otherwise,
he said developing countries will remain on the defensive.
For their part, developing countries also need to reform their own
domestic and trade policies, or risk being left on the edge of the world
market, said H.S. Dillon, former advisor to the President of Indonesia.
Without crucial investments in infrastructure and research that raises
rural productivity, developing countries cannot take advantage of trade
agreements.
This seminar involved agri-business and did not take into account
local and rural farms. The theme was trade and how to expand the export
of US farm products while minimizing food imports, which are actually
surpassing our exports. For more information, please link to: www.agritrade.org.
HeLP America Act to Promote Healthier Lifestyles, Emphasize Prevention
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) unveiled major legislation to transform
our health care system and reduce health care costs by giving Americans
access to better preventive care and consumer information to encourage
healthier lifestyles. The HeLP America Act of 2005 provides all sectors--child
care centers, schools, workplaces, health care providers and communities--with
incentives and the tools they need to reach the goal of making America
a healthier place. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and
diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S.,
and the economic impact is staggering. Seventy-five percent of the $1.8
trillion the United States spends on healthcare annually goes towards
treating chronic diseases. Yet, less than five percent of annual health
care spending in the United States goes toward chronic disease prevention.
One goal of the HeLP America Act is to improve the overall wellness
of children by promoting better nutrition, increasing physical activity,
helping diagnose and prevent mental illness, and providing alternatives
to the junk foods that are sold in vending machines and on a la carte
menus in schools. The bill will help kids develop good habits by putting
fresh fruits and vegetables in school, and taking junk food out. It
also takes on the tidal wave of ads in schools and on TV pushing junk
foods on our kids. Finally, to promote better nutrition for children,
this legislation expands Early Head Start and includes a "baby-friendly
hospital" initiative for hospitals that promote breastfeeding.
It should be noted that while the goals of the bill are very laudable,
it still endorses the US Dietary Guidelines and Food Pyramid concepts,
many of which are questionable.
Senator Harkin was a leading advocate for reducing or eliminating vending
machines and junk foods in schools during the deliberations for the
Child Nutrition Act last year. Senate Republicans defeated his laudable
efforts, claiming that such decisions are the purview of local school
districts. Meanwhile, the federal government dictates macronutrient
values for school children at the national level.
For more information, please go to the following link: http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=237846.
About the Author
 Bill
Sanda, BS, MBA, served as Executive Director and Director of Public
Affairs for the Weston A. Price Foundation. Bill was a partner and co-owner of
The McAdam Group, a lobbying company specializing in elements of education policy,
and was a consultant to Primezyme, Inc., a nutrition and healing clinic. He has
extensive experience in Washington D.C. politics and government, having served
as a professional staff member in the US Senate.
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