House agri committee approves farm bill

WASHINGTON — The House Agriculture Committee completed a marathon session early today, approving a five-year farm bill that offers greater protections to Arkansas rice growers than a Senate-approved version.

After opening debate on the bill 17 hours earlier, the committee voted 35-11 to approve the legislation that sets policies for federal agriculture and nutrition programs. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, the only Arkansan on the panel, voted in favor of the bill.

“The House Agriculture Committee has worked in a bipartisan fashion to craft a fiscally responsible Farm Bill that will work for farm families across the country,” Crawford said in a press statement. “Now that the bill has been voted out of committee, I am hopeful the full House will soon be able to consider this legislation that saves taxpayers money and reduces the nation’s deficit.”

The House bill keeps a price support program that pays farmers when prices fall below certain levels. The target price system is favored by Southern rice and peanut farmers, who objected to the Senate bill that relied on crop insurance and a new shallow-loss program.

The USA Rice Federation is supporting the House version, saying it offers “a meaningful choice of risk management tools for all producers, crops and regions.”

The Agricultural Council of Arkansas issued a statement after the vote saying they support the House bill because it “provides certainty for farmers, which will allow them to make long-term investments necessary for maintaining productivity and economic viability.”

The Council urged Congress, as they go forward, to retain the safety-net programs included in the bill noting that changes could put the livelihood of Arkansas’s agriculture industry at risk.

The most hotly debated issue for the panel was food stamps. The bill would reduce the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by about $1.6 billion a year by tightening rules that states use to determine who can participate.

Crawford said closing the loopholes would not impact Arkansas because the state does not use them. Some Democrats on the panel, however, argued against the plan which quadruples the cuts included in the bill the Senate adopted last month. They said it would throw millions of poor Americans — mostly children and elderly — off food stamps.

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Rick Crawford Raises $235K for Re-Election Bid

LITTLE ROCK – Republican Congressman Rick Crawford’s campaign says he’s raised more than $253,000 over the past three months for his re-election bid.

The Arkansas lawmaker’s campaign said Thursday that he has more than $618,000 cash on hand for his re-election bid. Crawford is seeking a second term representing east Arkansas’ 1st District. The campaign said he raised a little more than $253,000 between April 1 and June 30.

Crawford’s campaign said the amount surpasses the $159,000 he had raised during the same quarter during his 2010 bid.

Crawford faces Democratic nominee Scott Ellington, a local prosecutor, in the November election.

To read more, click the link above.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Wednesday, July 11, 2012

CONTACT:

Brad Ferguson / Brad@MeetRickCrawford.com

TIM WOOLDRIDGE TO LEAD DEMOCRATS FOR CRAWFORD

Jonesboro, Arkansas –

Congressman Rick Crawford announced today that former Arkansas State Senator Tim Wooldridge will chair the Democrats for Crawford coalition for Congressman Crawford’s campaign.

“Tim has been a great friend and supporter, and I am thrilled that he has agreed to lead our Democrats for Crawford coalition. This election is not about being Democrat or Republican.  I’m proud to have supporters from both parties who are fed up with an over-reaching federal government that is trying to dominate every aspect of our lives from the way we run our farms to our healthcare decisions.  Tim not only will be a great asset to our campaign as we organize for the fall election, but as a former legislative leader in Little Rock he is also a valued advisor on policy issues affecting the First Congressional District,” said Crawford.

“Rick Crawford has been an extraordinarily effective representative for Arkansas’ First District, and I am excited to be a part of his team.

From his work fighting for our priorities in the Farm Bill to his advocacy for Arkansas on the Transportation Committee, Rick has been a strong leader for us in Washington.  Rather than focus on partisanship, Rick Crawford has pushed for policies that will lead to more job creation in Arkansas, and I know that will continue to be his top priority,” said Wooldridge, who continued:  “Everyday I hear from more people who are tired of partisan bickering and who simply want leaders who will move beyond partisanship and focus on finding real solutions.  That’s why I am stepping up to cross partisan lines and support Rick.  He is working above partisanship, and his courage deserves our support.”

Tim Wooldridge is a former Paragould City Councilman, Arkansas State Representative and State Senator. He has been an active leader in his community having been involved with several service organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, the Greene County Scholarship Committee and the Paragould Area Chamber of Commerce.  Wooldridge served seven years as the Vice President of Development at Crowley’s Ridge College, followed by work for the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center Foundation and the Arkansas Association of Public Universities.  He is now the Northeast Arkansas project manager for MFA Oil Biomass.  Wooldridge is a graduate of Arkansas State University and is married to the former Lisa Woodson of Paragould.  They have two children.

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Paid for by Crawford for Congress / www.MeetRickCrawford.com/

Crawford brings books to county

Arkansas First District Congressman Rick Crawford (R-Jonesboro) was in Paragould Friday morning to donate about 250 books to the Greene County Library as part of the Library of Congress Surplus Book Program.

According to a press release from Crawford’s office, the Library of Congress receives more than 20,000 items every day, but only about half of the material is retained for the library’s permanent collection. The remainder is designated for donation through the Surplus Books Program, the release said.

“Once a month, we can go to the Library of Congress and essentially take advantage of surplus books that would probably otherwise be destroyed,” Crawford said. “We can bring them back to libraries in our district.”

Crawford said Greene County Library staff members “initiated the program” by contacting his office. He said once a month, his staff searched through the surplus books for subject matter the libraries had requested. Staff members said Crawford also offered to pay the shipping cost of the books. They said the books helped the library’s book budget as well as allowed its patrons to expand their reading environment.

“It’s always good to get books for our collection — especially when they’re coming at no cost to us,” branch librarian Sandra Rogers said. “[The shipment included] a lot of textbooks that we’ll be able to furnish to students. We normally don’t buy textbook material. This is a great program.”

To read more, click the link above.

Crawford to donate books to Corning, Greene County libraries

JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) – Friday, Congressman Rick Crawford will give books to the Corning and Greene County Libraries from the Library of Congress’s Surplus Books Program.

Crawford will visit the Greene County Library in Paragould from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and the Corning Public Library from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

“I am excited the Greene County and Corning Libraries will be able to benefit from the Library of Congress’s Surplus Books Program. My staff and I hope we can work with other libraries at home to benefit from the program,” said Crawford. “Libraries are often the first place young people begin to learn about their world and the Surplus Books Program will help libraries in Arkansas expand their collection.”

To read more, click the link above.

 Crawford Announces Sen. Johnny Key as Campaign Chairman

As returns from the Democratic runoff to pick his challenger trickle in, Congressman Rick Crawford announced Senator Johnny Key of Mountain Home serve as Campaign Chairman of his reelection bid. Warren Dupwe of Jonesboro will serve as Chairman Emeritus of Crawford’s campaign team.

“Senator Key will be an asset to Team Crawford,” said Crawford. “In Little Rock, Senator Key has worked to ensure that Arkansans are not saddled with extensive debt and has fought off efforts to implement President Obama’s healthcare law in our state. Senator Key is respected across the political spectrum and he will play a major role in moving our common sense conservative message forward.”

Congressman Rick Crawford spoke to a crowd at Angler’s Depot in Heber Springs on Friday about legislation he is introducing to provide a reliable source of funding for Greers Ferry National Mitigation Hatchery

Heber Springs, Ark. —On Friday, Congressman Rick Crawford was in Heber Springs to announce legislation that will provide a reliable source of funding for mitigation fish hatcheries operations. Crawford’s First Congressional District is home to the Greers Ferry National Mitigation Hatchery in Heber Springs and the Norfork Lake National Mitigation Hatchery in Mountain Home.

To read more, click this link.

Rick Crawford on KATV
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