Dear Friend,One of the most consequential pieces of must-pass legislation Congress will contend with this year is the Farm Bill. Its sweeping programs direct the future of American agriculture. The ramifications for human health, climate change, animal welfare, and Americans struggling to feed themselves and their families are massive. For years I have led the charge to reform the Farm Bill. Our current system pays too much to the wrong people to grow the wrong things in the wrong places. This happens at the expense of our health, the environment, animal welfare and the small and medium sized farmers trying to make a living. All of this matters to Oregonians. I have traveled the state meeting with farmers and ranchers and listening to what a Farm Bill would look like if we wrote it just for them.Oregon scarcely benefits from the lavish commodity subsidies title. We grow “specialty crops,” better known as “food.” Berries, nuts, wine grapes, fruits, and vegetables. We have an array of farmers markets that are anchors in their communities. Doctors are writing prescriptions to their patients for fruits and vegetables because healthy eating leads to better health outcomes. Our ranchers need more small, diversified meat processors. There are so many common-sense changes that would make a huge difference for human health, climate change, and the future of agriculture. Last month with the support of dozens of progressive environmental, animal welfare and food systems thinkers, I reintroduced my version of the Farm Bill. My Food and Farm Act would: Cut, cap, and clarify existing farm subsidy programs + increase insurance coverage for farmers who grow more than one crop. Reform existing conservation programs to ensure that results actually improve the environment.  Increase the reach and efficacy of our food and nutrition assistance programs.Increase access to healthy food in food deserts and other underserved areas, schools, and farmers markets.Provide resources to beginning, retiring, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.Establish a Food Waste Title to better prioritize food waste reduction.Invest in research programs related to sustainable agriculture and help farmers and navigate a changing climate.Ensure that federal dollars support the humane treatment of animals. Support vibrant local and regional food systems.In sizing up this year’s reauthorization, Lisa Held of Civil Eats wrote, “Most of the D.C. lawmakers behind our food and agriculture policy are pragmatists. Every five years, they stick to the same old script, tweak a few programs in small ways to make farm and hunger groups happy, and pass a business-as-usual farm bill. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) is not most lawmakers.”For updates, be sure to like and follow my official Facebook and Instagram (@congressmanearlblumenauer) pages as we fight once again to shift the Farm Bill.