2012 Marker Bills | NESAWG

From Farm Bill Jargon for Dummies: Marker bills contain a set of specific proposals to reform one or more Titles, and are deliberated on by the appropriations committees. They typically get introduced to Congress but are not discussed on the floor right away. A marker bill typically has at least a few Congressional cosponsors upon introduction. The goal is to enlist more cosponsors after it is introduced for a better chance of passing later in the process.

These marker bills have been written to shape the 2012 Farm Bill:

Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act of 2011 – S. 1773, H.R. 3286

Summary: To promote local and regional farm and food systems, and for other purposes.
Sponsors: Senator Sherrod Brown [D-OH] and Representative Chellie Pingree [D-ME1]

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011 – S. 1850, H.R. 3236

Summary: A bill to expand and improve opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers, and for other purposes.
Sponsors: Senator Tom Harkin [D-IA] and Representative Tim Walz [D-MN1] 

Community-Supported Agriculture Promotion Act – S. 1414, H.R. 4012

Summary: A bill to amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to establish a community-supported agriculture promotion program.
Sponsors: Senator Bernie Sanders [I-VT] and Representative Peter Welch [D-VT]

Expanding Access to Farmers Markets Act – S. 1593

Summary: A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require State electronic benefit transfer contracts to treat wireless program retail food stores in the same manner as wired program retail food stores.
Sponsor: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY] 

Healthy Food Financing Initiative – S. 1926, H.R. 3525

Summary: To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish in the Department of Agriculture a Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
Sponsors: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representative Allyson Schwartz [D-PA13]

Livestock Marketing Fairness Act – S. 1026, H.R. 2631

Summary: A bill to amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to prohibit the use of certain anti-competitive forward contracts.
Sponsors: Senator Michael Enzi [R-WY], Representative Cynthia Lummis [R-WY]

Rural America Preservation Act of 2011 – S. 1161

Summary: A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to restore integrity to and strengthen payment limitation rules for commodity payments and benefits.
Sponsor: Senator Chuck Grassley [R-IA] 

Specialty Crop Insurance Act of 2011 – S. 1905

Summary: A bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to support crop insurance for specialty crops, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]