Congressman Case Cointroduces National Legislation to Save Farmland and Boost Ag-Based Renewable Energy
Congressman Case Cointroduces National Legislation to Save Farmland and Boost Ag-Based Renewable Energy
Environmental Defense and Hawaii farmers and ranchers today praised the introduction of landmark legislation, co-introduced by U.S. Congressman Ed Case, to promote energy development on farms, ranches and forest lands; to expand healthy food choices; to protect farmland from development; and to reward good stewardship of farms and forest lands. The bipartisan legislation also would double conservation spending to provide cleaner air, water and wildlife habitat and help stabilize global warming over the life of the next farm bill.
The bill, "The Healthy Farms, Foods and Fuels Act of 2006," is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and has 26 cosponsors, including two members of the House Agriculture Committee, U.S. Reps. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) and Ben Chandler (D-Ky.); the chairman of the House Science Committee, U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R- N.Y.); and the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.). The other cosponsors are: U.S. Reps. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.), Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Jeb Bradley (R-N.H.), James T. Walsh (R-N.Y.), Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Rush Holt (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sam Farr (D-Ca.), Rob Andrews (D-N.J.), Grace Napolitano (D-Ca.), Ellen Tauscher (D-Ca.), Tom Allen (D-Maine), Charles Bass (R- N.H.), Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), Sue Kelly (R-N.Y.) and James Oberstar (D-Mich.).
"Renewable energy, strengthening agriculture, and good stewardship and preservation of agricultural have long been high priorities of mine," said Congressman Case, a member of the House Agriculture Committee. "Expanding conservation incentives will ensure that farm policy helps all farmers and ranchers regardless of how much land they farm, whether they grow traditional or specialty crops, or where they live," said Case. "All rural communities will share in the environmental benefits the programs in this bill make available. I especially welcome the assistance this bill provides in helping communities that are facing tremendous development pressures to protect prime agricultural land from urban encroachment, thereby maintaining a rural quality of life and open spaces."
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http://wwwc.house.gov/case/press_releases/2006/2006-35.html