Last week, Congress passed a Farm Bill with strong, bipartisan support in both the House and Senate – strong enough to override the President’s certain veto of the bill.  I believe the Farm Bill will become law and it cannot happen soon enough. Rising food and fuel prices have put a strain on all Americans, but especially on low-income working Nevada families who are struggling to put food on the table. On average, families are paying $3,000 more per year for gasoline than they were seven years ago and 15% to 30% more for basic food items like bread, eggs and meat.

Families who never thought they would need it are lining up for help. Demand for food stamps has more than doubled in Nevada over the past 7 years. The Farm Bill includes $7.8 billion in new funding to strengthen the purchasing power of food stamp benefits. Over the life of the bill funding doubles for food banks and soup kitchens to help them feed low-income families who never expected to be struggling. $1 billion is set aside to provide low-income schools with fresh fruit and vegetables. The bill invests $25 million annually in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.  It increases funding for research, organic agriculture and new markets for fresh fruits and vegetables, which will strengthen farm income and give consumers healthier choices.

Nevada’s ranchers and farmers also benefit from conservation programs in the bill, which support better stewardship of our natural resources, especially rangelands and water.  The bill provides grants and loans for farmers and ranchers to invest in on-farm energy production, such as solar or wind.  I believe Nevada can lead the world in renewable energy development, with our tremendous solar, wind and geothermal resources.  Further, just in time for Wildland Fire Awareness Week, the Farm Bill contains funding to help prevent devastating western wildfires and provide disaster assistance to those impacted by drought and wildfire. Reports of an active fire season remind us of the difficult challenge we face.  My 2006 White Pine land bill provided funding and fire plans for the Carson Front (as noted in today's paper), the Spring Mountains, and the Tahoe Basin.