United: unprecedented vote

From United Fresh Produce Association:

By an unprecedented vote of 81-15, the United States Senate approved the Farm Bill Conference Report today. The Bill will now be sent to the White House, where the President is expected to veto it. If President Bush vetoes the Bill, Congress will have to vote again in order to override the presidential veto. Based on yesterdays vote in the House and todays vote in the Senate, it is expected that Congress has enough support to override the veto and make the conference report law without the Presidents signature.

Yesterday we provided you with some of the major accomplishments in the Bill. Below are some of the other important priorities that were included in the Farm Bill Conference Report that has now been passed by both the House and the Senate:

$23 million for Food Safety Research: As part of the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, 10 percent of the annual funding would go directly to fresh produce food safety to address production and processing practices.

Country of Origin Labeling Reforms: The Bill amends the Country of Origin Labeling law of 2002 by reducing penalties for mistakes in labeling at point of purchase, including a "good faith" standard that reduces the liability for retailers, unless shown to be disregarding or willfully violating the law. It includes self attestation of origin so that retailers can rely upon what suppliers tell them. Normal records kept in the regular course of doing business are sufficient to comply with the statute. It ialso includes a specific provision to allow labeling of a U.S. State, region or locality in which a product is produced to meet label standards as product of U.S.

$20 million for Pilot Food Stamp Pilot Project: This pilot project will be used to test how incentives at the point of purchase encourage individuals who participate in the Food Stamp Program to purchase fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods.

As the Senate process unfolded, we would not have gotten to where we are without the leadership of Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). Senator Stabenow is to be commended for her leadership in the Senate Farm Bill process and for her support of the fruits and vegetable policy priorities that are included in the final agreement.