Farm Bill Week of Action!
Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC) is inviting you to join our Farm Bill Week of Action from August 28 - September 1, 2023! During this week our staff, joined by the Chicago Food Justice Rhizome Network of growers and producers, will be meeting with members of Congress to share our priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill. To amplify these efforts, we want YOU to call and social media blast your representatives!
To guide you in this advocacy work, we have assembled an action toolkit complete with background information on CFPAC’s Farm Bill priorities, sample scripts for calling your members of Congress, and graphics and sample captions to share via social media to recruit others to join you in taking action. Each day of the week will focus on a different “marker bill” that we want to see incorporated into the 2023 Farm Bill.
You can also find all of the marker bills and associated calls to action below! Once you’ve completed an action, be sure to let us know how it went by filling out a quick google form! For each phone call or social media post, you’ll get entered into a raffle to win a CFPAC t-shirt!
Everyone who completes an action and fills out the form below will receive complimentary, locally-sourced sunflower or radish seeds
Thursday, August 31ST: FARMERS MARKET FOOD BANK REVITALIZATION ACT (H.R. 2378)
The Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA; H.R.1840 / S.1016) aims to give farmers the tools they need to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The bill will strengthen farms with research, extension, conservation, and energy investments and put choice back into the hands of the people. For more information, read CFPAC’s 1-pager on the ARA here.
Opportunities to Take Action Below!
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Dial the phone number for your member of Congress. You will likely be answered by a receptionist or staffer for your congressperson or reach their voicemail.
If you reach a receptionist or staffer who asks what you are calling about, you should say, “My name is [name], and I am one of your constituents from [town / neighborhood]. I am calling about the Farm Bill and I would like to speak to [congressperson’s name] or the staffer handling agriculture.” (They may ask for your address/zip code to confirm constituency before transferring)
If the person you are talking to says they are the appropriate staffer to speak with, or you are transferred to the appropriate staffer and they answer, go ahead and read from the sample script below!
If you are transferred and you get a voicemail, leave a message using the sample script below.
If you immediately reach a voicemail, leave a message using the sample script below.
Sample script for staffer or voicemail message:
“Hello [Senator or Representative LastName],
My name is [name], and I am one of your constituents from [town/neighborhood]. (Optional: I am a member of [organization].)
I am calling as part of a Week of Action organized by the Chicago Food Policy Action Council to ask your office to support the Agriculture Resilience Act (H.R.1840/ S.1016) in the 2023 Farm Bill. This bill would help our farmers fight the effects of climate change while continuing to support the food system and feed our country.
(Optional: Share a short story or reason why this bill is important to you / your org.)
Please make sure that this marker bill is included in the Farm Bill so that farmers can better mitigate and adapt to climate change. Thank you!”
One you’ve finished calling your Senators and members of Congress- tell us how it went by filling out this quick form
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Instagram
Option 1: Create your own post using the graphic above and sample caption below. Make sure to tag your congresspeople
Let’s give farmers the ability to feed and protect the planet!
I’m calling on Congress to include the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA) in the upcoming #FarmBill. This bill will give farmers the tools they need so that the U.S. can reach net-zero agricultural emissions by 2040.
To learn more about #ARA and advocate for a Farm Bill that works for everyone, check out @chifoodpolicy Week of Action!
Option 2: Add today’s @chifoodpolicy post to your story and tag your congresspeople
Facebook
Option 1: Create your own post using the graphic above and sample wording below.
Let’s give farmers the ability to feed and protect the planet!
I’m calling on @[tag your congresspeople] to include the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA) in the upcoming Farm Bill. This bill will give farmers the tools they need so that the U.S. can reach net-zero agricultural emissions by 2040.
To learn more about ARA and advocate for a Farm Bill that works for everyone, check out Chicago Food Policy Action Council’s Week of Action!
Option 2: Share today’s post from CFPAC and tag your congresspeople
Twitter
Option 1: Use one of the sample tweets below
Agriculture is one of the top producers of greenhouse gasses in the U.S. @[tag your congresspeople] support the Agriculture Resilience Act in the upcoming #FarmBill to help farmers reach net-zero emissions by 2040! #ARA
Excited to join @ChiFoodPolicy this week to push Congress to include the Agriculture Resilience Act in the #FarmBill @[tag your congresspeople]
Option 2: Retweet today’s @ChiFoodPolicy tweets
One you’ve finished making your social media posts - tell us how it went by filling out this quick form. Don’t forget to also tag @chifoodpolicy!
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Use the template below to email your friends to join you in making these calls! You are encouraged to tailor the wording to your audience.
“ Hi _________,
I am joining CFPAC’s Week of Farm Bill Action, and I’m inviting you to join us in advocating for a Farm Bill that works for everyone!The Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC) has organized a Farm Bill Week of Action running from August 28 - September 1, 2023. Each day of the week focuses on a different marker bill that the Chicago Food Justice Rhizome Network wants to see included in the upcoming Farm Bill. We have assembled an Advocacy Toolkit to guide you through calling your congresspeople and posting on social media to ask for legislator support and encourage others to take action. You can learn more about the Week of Action here.
ALL are welcome to join: food system advocates, food organizations, farmers, processors, eaters, everyone! Feel free to join for just one day/marker bill or all of them. Please note that the Advocacy Toolkit is geared towards participants living or working in Illinois.
The marker bills we are advocating for:
Justice for Black Farmers Act (H.R.1167 / S.96) - Monday, Aug 28
Local Food and Farms Act (H.R.2723 / S.1205) - Tuesday, Aug 29
Strengthening Local Processing Act (H.R.945 / S.354) - Wednesday, Aug 30
Farmers’ Market and Food Bank Local Revitalization Act (H.R. 2378) - Thursday, Aug 31
Agriculture Resilience Act (H.R.1840 / S.1016) - Friday, Sep 1
Hope you’ll join us!
In community,_______________