FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2020
Contact: Hannah Packman, 303-819-8737
hpackman@nfudc.org
WASHINGTON – As a global pandemic and extreme weather events batter an already weak agricultural economy, hundreds of farmers, ranchers, and rural residents will gather online next week to speak directly with their elected representatives and administration officials as part of National Farmers Union’s (NFU) virtual legislative fly-in.
Advocates from across the country will campaign for policies that support pandemic recovery, reduce chronic overproduction, restore competition to agricultural markets, strengthen rural healthcare, improve access to broadband internet, ensure the success of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), help farmers and ranchers implement climate-smart practices, and expand the market for homegrown biofuels. The NFU Fly-In Talking Points can be found here.
NFU will kick off the virtual fly-in on Monday, September 14, with a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) briefing, during which participants will hear from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand.
The event will continue the following day with a Congressional briefing featuring Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture Collin Peterson, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Senator Jon Tester, and Representative Frank Lucas.
Throughout the week, participants will also join small-group meetings with congressional offices, a panel discussion on USPS, and a virtual social gathering.
Members of the press who are interested in attending the USDA Briefing and/or the Congressional Briefing must RSVP to Hannah Packman at hpackman@nfudc.org by 5 p.m. Eastern on Friday, September 11.
WHAT:
USDA Briefing – NFU Fall Legislative Fly-In
WHERE:
Online
WHEN:
Monday, September 14
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Eastern
SPEAKERS (invited, in anticipated order):
Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Bette Brand, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development
WHAT:
Congressional Briefing – NFU Fall Legislative Fly-In
WHERE:
Online
WHEN:
Tuesday, September 15
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Eastern
SPEAKERS (invited, in anticipated order):
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, California
Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture Collin Peterson, Minnesota
Senator Debbie Stabenow, Michigan
Senator Jon Tester, Montana
Representative Frank Lucas, Oklahoma
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About NFU
National Farmers Union advocates on behalf of nearly 200,000 American farm families and their communities. We envision a world in which farm families and their communities are respected, valued, and enjoy economic prosperity and social justice.
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