{"id":1355,"date":"2012-04-27T19:02:06","date_gmt":"2012-04-27T19:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/coloradowildlife.org\/?p=1355"},"modified":"2012-04-27T19:02:06","modified_gmt":"2012-04-27T19:02:06","slug":"sen-ag-committee-passes-2012-farm-bill-with-key-bennet-amendments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradowildlife.org\/sen-ag-committee-passes-2012-farm-bill-with-key-bennet-amendments\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Ag Committee Passes 2012 Farm Bill, with Key Bennet Amendments"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On April 26, the Senate Agricultural Committee passed the 2012 Farm Bill, including key amendments backed by Colorado’s Senator Michael Bennet. CWF applauds Senator Bennet and these measures to help farmers, ranchers, sportsmen and other conservationists.<\/p>\n

Here is the press release issued by Senator Bennet:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bennet-Backed Measures Including Improved Conservation Programs, Crop Insurance, Focus on Water Quantity Retained in Bill
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Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined his colleagues in the Senate Agriculture Committee in reporting the 2012 Farm Bill out of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. The bill includes several Bennet-backed provisions and amendments aimed at helping Colorado farmers, ranchers and sportsmen.\u00a0The bill passed with broad, bipartisan support and now moves to the full Senate for consideration.<\/p>\n

\u0153I have heard from Coloradans from Wray to Cortez, and from Lamar to Meeker that they need a Farm Bill that works better, addresses the issues that affect them most and builds upon the progress being made in our rural communities,\u009d said Bennet, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. \u0153The Senate Agriculture Committee has put forward a bipartisan bill that will save taxpayer dollars, adds efficiency and provides support and certainty for producers, small business entrepreneurs, and community food organizations continuing the important work of feeding our country.\u00a0The bill reported out of committee today will also increase access for Colorado hunters and anglers and support our recreation-based economy.\u009d<\/p>\n

\u0153I will continue to work for swift passage of the bill, so Colorado farmers and ranchers have the certainty and security that they need to plan for the future.\u009d<\/p>\n

Steven Kline, director of the Center for Agricultural & Private Lands at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said, \u0153The Farm Bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation for sportsmen across the country. Thanks in no small part to Senator Bennet’s work on the Agriculture Committee, the Senate version of the 2012 Farm Bill now boasts more resources for the Voluntary Public Access program,\u00a0the only federal program designed to increase economically important recreational access to private lands in states like Colorado. Senator Bennet was also instrumental in the inclusion of a robust Sodsaver provision in the Committee mark. Because of the leadership of Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Roberts, and Committee members like Senator Bennet, this Farm Bill accomplishes good things for hunters and anglers and the fish and wildlife habitat they depend on.\u009d<\/p>\n

In response to the input he received at more than 20 Farm Bill listening sessions he held across the state, Bennet introduced and cosponsored several key provisions and pushed important changes to current agriculture and conservation policies.<\/p>\n

During today’s hearing, the amendments Bennet secured were:<\/p>\n