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For Immediate
Release
6/13/06
CONTACT:
Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725
Senators Unveil 2nd Phase of Successful Farmers First Agenda
HARRISBURG -- Building
on their successful "Farmers First Agenda," Senator Mike Waugh (R-York) and
Senator Noah Wenger (R-Lancaster) today unveiled the second phase of a
comprehensive legislative agenda aimed at promoting agriculture in Pennsylvania.
The senators,
who serve as chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee,
also provided a status report of several of the laws already enacted in the
first year of their "Farmers First Agenda." These include new measures to
preserve farmland, help farmers be more competitive and protect the
Commonwealth's equine industry from lawsuits.
"In the first
year of our Farmers First Initiative, we made major strides in protecting
valuable farmland, promoting the state's number one industry and ensuring that
farming remains strong in Pennsylvania," Wenger said. "We held public hearings
to seek input from those in the farming community and used that information to
craft good legislation and move it through the process."
Waugh said the
second phase of the Farmers First Agenda will include a number of ongoing
initiatives, such as the "Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Program," contained
in Senate Bill 1209. The program would promote both good health and farm
profitability by encouraging nutritional and agricultural education in schools.
Senator
Shirley Kitchen (D-Philadelphia), the bill's cosponsor, said the measure will
help to combat the growing problem of childhood obesity and educate at-risk
children about the need to eat healthy foods. "This program will bring together
one of Pennsylvania's most important economic sectors -- the agricultural
industry -- with our public school system," Kitchen said.
The senators
also unveiled a number of new bills and proposals that they plan to introduce,
including:
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The
creation of "The Centers for Agriculture Excellence and Education" to serve
as a central clearing house of programs and information for current and new
farmers.
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Combined
funding for conservation districts through a fund administered by the State
Conservation Commission.
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Legislation to ensure the continuation of vocational agriculture and FFA
programs operated by school districts and area vocational-technical schools.
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Funding to
implement alternatives that would provide for water releases during low-flow
periods without having to impose consumptive use fees on farmers.
Waugh and
Wenger said the new initiatives they are introducing will build on these laws
and help to ensure that the farming industry remains strong in Pennsylvania.
 
Waugh
Wenger
Program
Summary (PDF)
Sen. Mike Waugh (R-28),
at podium, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, speaks at a June
13 news conference on the second phase of the successful "Farmers First
Agenda," a comprehensive legislative package aimed at promoting
agriculture in Pennsylvania. Joining him were Sen. Roger Madigan
(R-23), left, and Sen. Noah Wenger (R-36), right.
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