US NFU says that the American Rescue Plan is a step towards a fair, sustainable food system
The US House of Representatives voted in favour of the American Rescue Plan on 10 March, sending it to the White House for President Joe Biden's signature.
11 March 2021
1 minute read
The $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package includes benefits for unemployed workers, stimulus payments up to $1,400 per person, and supplemental funding for nutrition programs, as well as support for vaccine distribution in rural communities, debt relief for socially disadvantaged farmers, and resources to build resilience in the food system.
When the bill was passed by the US Senate over the weekend, National Farmers Union (NFU) praised it, saying it “provides a lifeline” for struggling Americans and takes “several steps towards more meaningful, enduring improvements” in the food system. Upon the House’s approval today, the organization’s president Rob Larew reiterated his satisfaction with the legislation:
“In many respects, the American Rescue Plan is a positive development. In the immediate term, it provides crucial assistance for both unemployed and food insecure Americans and expedites vaccine administration in rural communities. But the bill doesn’t just address our most imminently pressing economic and medical concerns – it also endeavours to change the agricultural sector for the better by redressing racial inequities in federal farm programs and increasing resilience in our food supply chain. We are extremely encouraged by the inclusion of these provisions and hope Congress follows up with additional structural reforms that move us even closer to the fair, stable food system we’ve envisioned for so long.”
TheCattleSite News Desk
