At a "Barn Hall" style meeting in Hoosick today, Gillibrand announced measures she would support to protect our farmers
Hudson - Kirsten Gillibrand, the Democratic Congressional Candidate in NY-20, was joined by roughly 50 area farmers to discuss farm policy and rural economic development.
"We run the risk of being dependent on other countries not just for gas and oil, but for food as well. Our farmers can be a part of the solution." Gillibrand continued, "We must protect our farms and guarantee our farmers the necessary support to continue feeding America. Farms in NY-20 produce fruit, vegetables, grains, livestock and dairy. We must protect our agricultural wealth and heritage while ensuring our region's ability to continue farming in the future."
In Congress, Gillibrand will fight for legislation to protect our farmers and their families, including:
- Increase tax relief for energy consumed in farm production.
- Enact tax incentives for our farmers to perfect, develop and implement alternative energies- such as bio-fuels, fuel cells, wind, solar, and hydropower.
- Increase federal funding to preserve family farmland in the Northeast.
- Expand the Country of Origin Labeling Law (COOL) to cover animal products.
- Increase funding for rural education, health care, infrastructure, telecommunications, and the redevelopment of main streets.
- Develop strategies and programs to stabilize agricultural prices.
- Create incentives for farm equipment manufacturers to increase energy efficiency for fuel burning and electrical equipment.
- Expand the Farm to Fork program, which assists upstate farmers in finding downstate markets to sell their produce, and promotes the use of local produce and dairy in our schools, hospitals and organizations.
- Fight to secure funding to rapidly detect and deal with Mad Cow disease in order to mitigate the damage to exports in case of an outbreak.
- Properly fund crop price supports, crop insurance, farm credit bureaus, and provide adequate assistance to farmland damaged by natural disaster. Increase the compensation rate under the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC).
- Increase the number of agricultural visas for immigrants and create year-round visas for agricultural concerns that require year-round migrant labor.
Sweeney Has Repeatedly Voted Against Upstate New York Farmers
- The National Farmer's Union gave Sweeney a 17% approval rating - the second lowest in the NY delegation. (Project Vote Smart, 2004)
- At a time when our gas prices are soaring, Sweeney voted against increasing investment in renewable fuels and voted for billions of tax cuts for Big Oil. (HR 6, Vote 118, 4/20/2005 and HR 6, Vote 445, 7/28/2005)
- Sweeney voted against long-term bankruptcy protection for family farmers. (HR 975, Vote 8, 1/28/2004)
- Sweeney voted against country-of-origin labels for meat products. (HR 2673, Vote 354, 7/14/2003)
- Sweeney voted against protecting Farm Service Agency Offices by voting to close 713 of the FSA offices across America. (HR 2744, Vote 535, 10/20/2005)
- Sweeney voted against increased funding ($6 million) for the Farmer's Market Promotion Program - a crucial program for small-scale producers. (HR 4766, Vote 369, 7/13/2004)
Kirsten Gillibrand is running for Congress because it is time for new ideas and real change in Washington.
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