A bill is being written on Capitol Hill right now that could advance or obstruct many of the equity, justice and environmental priorities of Unitarian Universalists and other progressive people of faith. And it might not be the first bill you would think of when considering where we should deploy our organizing energy and our advocacy resources in Washington. Every five years, Congress negotiates a massive Farm Bill and given the issues on the negotiating table, it is incredibly important that Unitarian Universalists bring our values and commitments to bear on this debate.
Fifteen years ago, I served as the Legislative Director for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives whose district included parts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as well as its near-in suburbs. Agriculture and farming policy was not a top priority for most of the district, and yet I quickly learned how important and relevant the 2008 Farm Bill was to every community and every constituency in the United States.
Karen Perry Stillerman, Deputy Director of the Union of Concerned Scientists, lists Six Reasons Why You Should Care about the (So-Called) Farm Bill, ranging from the Bill’s major investments in food security and food aid programs to its potential to address climate change and build climate resilience, to the way it could counteract the impact Wall Street and corporate consolidation has had on the price of food, the rights of agriculture workers, and the treatment of livestock. I would add to this list the bill’s potential impact on forest management practices to reduce the threat of wildfires and protect the long-term health of our forests, which, as we know, are nature’s air purifiers and climate protectors.
In past years, the Farm Bill has also been caught up in other major policy disputes. For example, in 2018, conservative Republicans used the Farm Bill to try to force a repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). As supporters of UUSJ, you know this has been an ongoing fight, and I hope you have responded to UUSJ’s call to action.
So, how can UUs get involved?
First, you can start by taking the new Farm Bill action by UUSJ. [You can also review the issue Handout, and distribute an Action Poster. UUSJ will plan virtual Hill Visits in late April or early May, as staffer schedules allow. Editor’s note.]
Second, we need to root ourselves in – and advocate from – our values. When we engage in advocacy as Unitarian Universalists, we do not begin with our objectives or goals, nor do we begin with our party affiliations or our policy preferences. We begin with our theological beliefs, our commitments, and our values. Our advocacy must reflect the fact that we are called into action by our shared beliefs in the inherent worth and dignity of every person, the interdependence of all things, and the power of action – rooted in love – to create a more just and equitable world.
Third, we need to get clear about what is at stake in this debate. There have already been calls to severely cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is the most important anti-hunger program. In 2021, SNAP provided food benefits to 41 million people a month. Given the impact of inflation and economic uncertainty, this is not the time to cut this important social support. There have also been calls to claw back or completely block some of the key climate victories in the Inflation Reduction Act. These victories were hard won, and they were not complete. The climate crisis is here and now. Congress should be taking more action, not backing out of what it has already committed to doing. And these are just two examples of the important work ahead.
Finally, we need to organize. All the issues at stake in the Farm Bill are important, and those who want to turn back progress want to divide their opposition into factions focused on narrow issues because they know we are stronger when we are together. So, yes, we need to write letters to lawmakers and show up at their offices and town halls. But, more importantly, we need to build accountable and resilient coalitions, honor and support the leadership of directly impacted communities, and show up when and where we are needed and when our partners are counting on us. And this is why the work UUSJ does is so important.
The Farm Bill is coming, and it has the potential to advance or obstruct many of the equity, justice, and environmental priorities issues UUs care about. We need to remain rooted in our values, understand what is at stake, and organize.