Agricultural News
Congressman Frank Lucas Disappointed with Move to take Money Away from Key Conservation Program to Fund Childhood Nutrition
Thu, 25 Mar 2010 4:55:29 CDT
The Ranking Minority Member of the House Ag Committee, Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas, was critical of the Senate Ag Committee's decision to take money away from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program- known as EQIP- to fund a part of the expansion of the Childhood Nutrition programs at the federal level. Congressman Lucas offered the following statement on Wednesday afternoon:
"I am disappointed that the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the child nutrition measure at the expense of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). I would hope that those charged with representing American agriculture would understand the importance of EQIP and how our farmers and ranchers depend on it for survival. This vote undermines the commitment we all made to our producers in the 2008 farm bill.
"No one disputes the importance of child nutrition, but we cannot continue to use programs that benefit our agricultural producers as a funding source for other programs."
We talked with Congressman Lucas about this issue- you can hear his comments that he made to us by clicking on the Listen Bar below.
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On Wednesday evening, the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts offered support to Congressman Lucas for his speaking out in defense of EQIP. Here is their release:
Congressman Frank Lucas has once again proven himself a champion of voluntary natural resources conservation by opposing the cuts to federal conservation programs passed today by the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee according to Trey Lam, President of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD).
"While we are very disappointed that the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee would advance a bill today that took money away from Farm Bill Conservation programs, we are very proud of the stand Congressman Lucas has taken in opposition to this legislation," Lam said. "We are hopeful his leadership can help slow this proposal down and help find a way to protect conservation funding."
Lam's statement came in response to Congressman Lucas's declaration of opposition to the child nutrition bill advanced today by the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. The bill, titled the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, would increase funding for child nutrition programs by cutting more than $2 billion over the next 10 years from the largest of USDA's working lands conservation programs, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
In a press release dated March 24, Mr. Lucas said "I am disappointed that the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the child nutrition measure at the expense of EQIP. I would hope that those charged with representing American agriculture would understand the importance of EQIP and how our farmers and ranchers depend on it for survival. This vote undermines the commitment we all made to our producers in the 2008 farm bill. No one disputes the importance of child nutrition, but we cannot continue to use programs that benefit our agricultural producers as a funding source for other programs."
According to Lam, this statement by Lucas shows a true commitment to natural resource conservation.
"Like Mr. Lucas, OACD understands the importance of child nutrition, it's just that nutrition and conservation should not be pitted against each other," Lam said. "We can't lose sight of the fact that we have to have productive soils, clean water and a healthy environment. Farmers, ranchers and other landowners need the help of programs like EQIP if we are to protect our natural resources while producing the food and fiber we need to feed and clothe the world. Mr. Lucas understands this and we appreciate his leadership on this issue."
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