Wheat and Dollars
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Blog | June 3, 2015

Stop Fast Track: Join the National Call-In Day!

Trade deals are one of the most powerful ways that corporations can control our food and farm system. So-called “free trade” agreements have concentrated corporate power and contributed to:

  • the exploitation of family farmers in the U.S. and abroad;
  • lower food safety standards for eaters;
  • the degradation of our soil, air and water;
  • the collapse of local economies and forced migration of workers; and
  • the undermining of local food procurement efforts such as farm to school programs.

Join us by taking action now: Call 888-804-8311 to reach your representative and tell them to reject the Ryan-Hatch Fast Track bill.

Corporations are trying to “fast track” trade deals in Congress with a bill that would give President Obama the power to negotiate and sign trade agreements behind closed doors, without the usual review, amendment and debate process.

In fact, Senator Paul Ryan’s Fast Track legislation passed in the Senate and is now awaiting a vote in the House. The vote could happen very soon and we have to move quickly to make sure our voices our heard. Calling is easy, and the 888-804-8311 number will guide you in what to say and connect you directly to your member of Congress.

If the President gets this authority, his first action would be to move on trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which have serious implications for family farmers and local food systems. We’re already seeing international trade regimes threaten U.S. laws like Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and food safety standards.

Trade agreements are too important to be negotiated in secret! Join thousands of organizations—representing the labor, environmental, family farm, civil rights, digital rights, human rights, public health, consumer, faith, student and other movements—to say NO to Fast Track.

Join Farm Aid for a national call-in day to Stop Fast Track. Call 888-804-8311 to talk to your representative now!

Further Reading

How will these new trade deals being negotiated affect farmers? Find out here.

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