Dear Friends,
I’m standing up to my party’s leadership to demand a floor vote on the Farm Bill as soon as possible, and I want you to know the facts about my work for Arkansas ag producers.
I joined 77 other lawmakers on a bi-partisan letter to the House leadership of both parties calling for a vote on the bill. I’m also helping lead the effort behind a discharge petition when Congress goes back into session in September. A discharge petition would require 218 signatures from lawmakers to force a floor vote on the bill. I am working over the next month to help my colleagues build support for that effort.
Our farmers need the certainty that a full five-year farm bill would provide. They are small business owners who must be able to plan and determine what investments to make in order to keep farming. I will continue to do everything within my power to get a vote on the Farm Bill and to help build support for the bill among my colleagues.
As someone who owned a small business and ran for Congress to try to change the institution to be more effective, it is frustrating to me that this work has gone unfinished. Rest assured I will keep pursuing every option available that could be helpful in moving this legislation forward.
My campaign has started a Facebook page dedicated to my work for Arkansas agriculture. I hope you will “Like” and share this page with others. [link]
The President, my opponent and their allies will continue the false attacks, and I need your help to make sure we get our message and the facts out. I hope you can volunteer [link] to help my campaign and sign up to receive our emails [link].
I am deeply grateful for your continued support and encouragement.
Sincerely,
Rick Crawford
Member of Congress
The Facts About Rick Crawford’s Work for Arkansas Agriculture
Democrats have only 40 votes on the House floor for the farm bill.
“Even after it cleared the committee, and Peterson promised to secure at least 40 Democratic votes for the bill on the floor…”
(Devin Henry, “House’s one-year farm bill dies,” MinnPost.Com, July 31, 2012)
Rick Crawford is skipping the Republican National Convention to stay in Arkansas and help ensure struggling farm families get the help they need.
“My staff and I will be assisting producers as they cope with this terrible natural disaster…”
(Pete Urban, “Crawford to skip GOP convention” Arkansas News August 10, 2012)
Rick Crawford founded the House Rice Caucus to be the voice for Arkansas and the nation’s rice producers in Washington.
“The inaugural meeting of the House of Representatives’ Rice Caucus was held on Wednesday. The mission of the Rice Caucus is to educate House members and the general public about the role rice plays in the economy.”
(“House Rice Caucus holds inaugural meeting,” DeltaFarmPress.com, October 27, 2011)
Crawford worked to ensure that rice farmers were treated fairly in the House Agriculture Committee-passed farm bill.
“Crawford emphasized that this would not work for rice farmers. Instead, the House bill would allow rice farmers to select a revenue loss coverage plan that is similar to the old counter-cyclical payments.”
(Christina Verderosa, “Crawford: Farm bill is good, bipartisan,” DeWitt Era Enterprise, July 18, 2012)
The Agricultural Council of Arkansas praised Rick Crawford’s efforts along with Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson for producing a strong, bipartisan farm bill in the House Agriculture Committee.
“The Agricultural Council of Arkansas appreciates the work of Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson in drafting the House farm bill. We also appreciate the work of Congressman Rick Crawford, who has been a strong advocate for Arkansas farmers as a member of the House Agriculture Committee.”
(Press Release, “Statement on the House Farm Bill,” Agricultural Council of Arkansas, July 9, 2012)
Rick Crawford has introduced the Farm Risk Abatement and Mitigation Election Act, or the FRAME Act, to establish tax-deferred farm savings accounts to help farmers better prepare for drought or other disasters in the future.
“Often times federal disaster assistance does not arrive fast enough. In fact, some farmers in our district are just now receiving aid from requests they made in 2009. During times of disaster, farmers cannot wait for the federal government. Farmers who choose to invest in FRAME Accounts would not be hamstrung by a sluggish federal disaster response. FRAME Accounts would give farmers a safety net to stay in business when they are most vulnerable.”
(Rick Crawford column, “Week In Review,” Spring River Chronicle, February 8, 2012)
Rick Crawford passed legislation to keep the Obama Administration’s EPA from taking more from ag producers’ pockets at a time they can least afford it.
“The legislation would modify the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule by raising its exemption levels for fuel storage capacity to better reflect the spill risk and financial resources of farms.”
(“FUELS Act passes House on voice vote,” Western Farm Press, August 6, 2012)
Rick Crawford, standing up for American catfish farmers and better food safety for consumers, fought to keep the catfish inspection program at USDA.
“Arkansas Rep. Rick Crawford, with catfish producers among his constituents, then brought out the big stick…”
(David Bennett, “House Agriculture Committee debates USDA catfish inspection program,” Delta Farm Press, July 12, 2012)
Rick Crawford was thanked by the Arkansas Rice Federation for his work on the Farm Bill.
“Brantly also gave special thanks to Congressman Rick Crawford of Arkansas…”
(KARK 4 News, “Arkansas Rice Federation Supports Farm Bill“ ArkansasMatters.com July 6, 2012)
Rick Crawford works across party lines when it’s in the best interests of farmers and ranchers.
“The National Association of FSA County Office Employees (NASCOE) appreciates Representatives Boswell and Crawford bipartisan leadership…”
(“NASCOE Commends Committee Passage of Boswell-Crawford Amendment in Farm Bill” Oklahoma Farm Report July 13, 2012)
Rick Crawford worked with Democrat Congressman Sanford Bishop to create the House Chicken Caucus to fight for the nation’s poultry industry.
“We want to protect the industry and grow it. That’s our goal.”
(Peter Urban, “House Chicken Caucus Takes Flight” Times Record March 22, 2012)
Rick Crawford will stand up to anyone proposing legislation that will hurt farmers, even members of his own party.
“At a time when more and more people have to rely on the productivity and stability of American agriculture, now is not the time to pose a threat to the very food source on which they rely.”
(“Agriculture, Rural Development, Food And Drug Administration, And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012” Capitol Words June 16, 2011)
Rick Crawford was one of only 4 legislators to host a field hearing for the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, and he held it in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
“Crawford says the hearing is one of only four field hearings and will provide an opportunity to ensure the new Farm Bill protects rural communities and the viability of agriculture in the South.”
(Lindsey Tugman, “House Agriculture Committee to hold Ark. Hearing” Today’s THV March 27, 2012)