House to vote on deficit reduction act of 2005: Bill makes Significant Cuts to Agriculture & Energy programs  

Today a letter signed by 140 organizations was sent to Members of the House, calling for the House to vote down the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 because of the drastic cuts it makes to conservation, nutrition, commodity, rural development and renewable energy programs.  Organizations who have signed this letter believe that these cuts do not represent the priorities of the country.   The bill is scheduled for House floor action tomorrow, Thursday, November 10.  

The proposed cuts include $3.7 billion to the farm bill over the next five years, going well above the $3 billion in cuts required by the Congressional Budget Resolution.  Programs affected include Food Stamps, Conservation Security, Future Agriculture and Food Systems, National Research Initiative, Rural Development programs and many more. Additionally, the bill will eliminate funding for the popular Sec. 9006 Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Program and Sec. 6401 Value-Add Program.  By removing funding for these two energy programs, the House bill will erase the baseline for the next farm bill, thereby making it very difficult for these programs to be included in any new farm bill as well as sending a signal to the Administration and the rest of Congress that these programs are not a priority.    

A total of 140 organizations from across the country, ranging from food banks to solar panel manufacturers, signed the letter.  This collective action illustrates the breadth of the unity against these poorly directed cuts and the negative impact they will have on the nation’s food and energy security.   

On November 3, the Senate passed its Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005, S. 1932, by a vote of 52-47.  If the House passes its version of the bill, the differences between the two bills will have to be worked out in a joint conference committee.   

If you have questions, please email or call Jetta Wong at jwong@eesi.org or (202) 662-1885.  For more information on the House Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, see: http://www.house.gov/budget/.

See PDF version of this Press Release.
See PDF version of sign-on letter.