Dear Community Leader,

RE: ACTION ALERT ON THE 2007 FARM BILL

We are writing today to urge your support of Representatives Ron
Kind's (D-WI) and Jeff Flake's (R-AZ) "Fairness in Farm and Food
Policy" amendment to Farm Bill, H.R.2419.  Please contact your
Congress member today as the amendment goes up for vote June 26th!
This very important piece of legislation will have implications on the
Latino community that include issues of family and community health,
fairness to Latino farmers, and justice for farmworkers and Latin
America.

Latino farmers and ranchers are the fastest growing sector of
agricultural owners and operators in the nation. They do not benefit
from the commodity program payments that consume half of all farm
spending. These commodity payments go to the largest and richest
farms.  It is time that our farmers and ranchers were treated as
equals! Call on your Congress member to end the status quo and vote in
favor of the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment.

At the National Latino Congreso, history was made where 2,000 leaders
from 20 states and 700 organizations and elective offices gathered and
agreed on action strategies and policy positions on 64 key topics of
vital concern to our community, nation and world including reform of
the Federal Farm Bill policy. To that end, the Fairness amendment is
consistent with Resolution 3.3 passed at the National Latino Congreso
in September 2006 by calling for reform of the farm bill:
    • to promote healthier food choices,
    • to double incentives for farmland stewardship, including more
      appropriate use of pesticides and incentives to adopt organic farming
      systems;
    • to help boost the profitability of farms and ranches, including the
adoption of a farm safety net linked to stewardship that helps more
Latino farmers and ranchers than traditional farm subsidies and does
not undermine farmers in developing nations.

The Kind/Flake amendment will call special attention to conservation,
nutrition, specialty crops and healthy foods and includes key reforms
such as:
    • Increases Domestic Hunger Assistance
    • Rewards Stewardship
    • Promotes Healthy Food Choices
    • Supports Our Fruit and Vegetable Producers
    • Supports Our Minority Farmers
    • Boosts Rural Prosperity

It is key that Latino and minority farmers receive funding to promote
sustainable farming practices. Once again, we urge you to contact your
Congress member today to ask their support of the "Fairness in Farm
and Food Policy" amendment to the 2007 Farm Bill.


Thank you,
(Please see signatories page)

Rosa Rosales
National President
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

Angela Sanbrano
President
National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC)

Roger Rivera
President
National Hispanic Environmental Council (NHEEC)

Senator Leticia Van de Putte, R. Ph.
Texas State Senator
Texas State Senate

Antonio Gonzalez
President
William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI)   & Latino Voters League (LVL)