BILL TO ESTABLISH WA FOOD POLICY FORUM PASSES

WA Food Policy Forum (SB 6343) passes House & Senate and now awaits signing by Governor Gregoire. The forum would bring together farmers, labor, independent grocers and international trade to address food system challenges. Benefits include job creation, keeping food dollars and tax revenue in state, and improved health from increased access to healthy food.  (update 4/20/2010)

ORIGINAL POSTING

Contact your State Senator to ask them to support SB 6343.
 
The Senate Ag and Rural Development Committee unanimously passed SB 6343 this afternoon.  The bill has been slightly modified since introduction. Several additional seats were added to the table to include more farmers, labor, independent grocers and international trade. In addition the name was changed to the Washington Food Policy Forum.  The bill now moves to the Rules Committee and then hopefully to the Senate Floor for a vote later this month. A full Senate vote on this bill is expected later this month.
 
To thank the following Senators on the Ag Committee for supporting the Washington Food Policy Forum call 1-800 562-6000 or email them at the email addresses below.
  
Hatfield, Brian (D) Chair
hatfield.brian@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7636

Ranker, Kevin (D) Vice Chair
ranker.kevin@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7678

Schoesler, Mark (R) *
schoesler.mark@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7620

Becker, Randi (R)
becker.randi@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7602

Haugen, Mary Margaret (D)
haugen.marymargaret@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7618

Jacobsen, Ken (D)
jacobsen.ken@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7690

Morton, Bob (R)
morton.bob@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7612

Shin, Paull (D)
shin.paull@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7640
 
For more information about the bill and other state agriculture issues go to the Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network website at  www.wsffn.org