Now is your opportunity to tell your Senators to support GMO labeling, crop diversity, livestock market reform, and country-of origin labeling amendments to the Farm Bill. Vote expected this week on these amendments. Go to WORC’s Action Page. (Action completed)
The House of Representative is expected to vote next week to fast track approval of the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline. A simple message from you today could convince your representative to oppose this risky Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Please go to WORC’s Action Page and send your message. (Action completed)
Urge your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act and thank those who have already co-sponsored this legislation.
The federal coal leasing program run by the Department of Interior (DOI) has given the coal industry the right to mine and sell publicly-owned coal for much less than taxpayers should get in return -- as much as $30 billion dollars less over the last 30 years. This giveaway happens through noncompetitive auctions where DOI sells the rights to publicly-owned coal for a fraction of what it’s worth.
And the federal government could lease about four billion more tons of publicly-owned coal, primarily in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana, in the next few years. The basin provides 40% of the country’s mined coal. Most of this coal is federally owned.
Newly confirmed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has the power to stop this giveaway to the coal industry.
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote soon on anti-conservation amendments to a budget bill. One amendment would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from protecting health from toxic coal ash. Another would fast track and force approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.
Contact your Senators today at WORC's Action Page. (Action completed)
Join us in sending a strong message to the Food and Drug Administration that farmers and consumers need more time to review and comment on the 1,200 pages of new food safety regulations. Sign the petition urging the FDA to extend the comment period on food safety regulation for an additional 120-days. (Action completed)
The Department of Energy (DOE) is studying whether to sell frracked liquefied natural gas (LNG) overseas. But DOE is not looking at the effects fracking natural gas has on clean water, clean air, and public health. DOE is only studying the economics of exporting fracked LNG.
Tell President Obama and DOE to expand their study of LNG exports.
Urge President Obama, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Trade Representative Kirk to keep strong labeling laws and protect the interests of consumers and ranchers. Sign WORC's petition to Protect Country-of-Origin Labeling. (Action completed)
A bipartisan coalition of 31 Senators sent a letter Jan. 31, 2013 calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative to work with consumers, ranchers and meatpackers to make sure that American families can know where their meat comes from. That letter supported country-of-origin-labeling of meat at a time when our labeling requirement is under attack from the World Trade Organization. Send thank you. (Action completed)
Last month, the Bureau of Land Management proposed to lease 20,000 acres of federal minerals in Western Colorado’s North Fork Valley for oil and gas drilling. BLM ignored the pleas of local farmers, ranchers, conservationists and other residents who oppose drilling in the area. The Valley is Colorado's only rural winery region and has the state's highest concentration of organic farms and ranches.
Sign the petition to the White House that asks President Obama to withdraw the leases. (Actrion completed.)
With Congress and the White House working to avoid the fiscal cliff, the last thing we need is corporations trying to sneak through dangerous, special interest legislation in a lame duck Congress. But that’s just what Monsanto and Tyson are trying to do. Dump the riders!
The House of Representatives will soon vote on H.R. 3409, which it calls the Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012. It would be more accurate to call it the Congress Surrenders to Dirty Coal Act. Contact your Representative today to support a clean energy future, instead of more dirty coal.
Contact the Army Corps of Engineers and your members of Congress to let them know we need a clear, comprehensive, and cumulative review of the harmful impacts of coal exports from mine to rail to port. (Action completed)
The House of Representatives will vote this week on an energy bill that would create new government handouts for the oil and gas industry. (Action completed)
When the U.S. Senate returns to work next week, it will take up the next Farm Bill. We need your help to win important votes that will help ensure the Farm Bill works for farmers, ranchers, and consumers. Take action here.
Join WORC, Dakota Resource Council, Northern Plains Resource Council, Powder River Basin Resource Council, and Western Colorado Congress in supporting this call to action to Stop the Frack Attack. (Action completed)
New rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency would protect our health from dangerous pollution oil and gas wells pour into the air. But the oil and gas industry is trying pressure the White House to weaken the EPA's rule. President Obama committed in his 2012 State of the Union address to protect communities from fracking pollution. (Action completed)
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has introduced the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act (S. 2204) that would end taxpayer subsidies to big oil companies, ensuring big polluters pay their fair share and helping to level the playing field between clean and dirty energy. The vote could be as soon as today. (Action completed)
A new bill, S. 2416, introduced by New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman, would create new incentives for the highly profitable oil, gas, coal, and nuclear industries. If we truly want clean energy, we should focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy that doesn't run out. Urge your Senators to co-sponsor the Renewable Energy Standard bill, S. 741, and to oppose Senator Bingaman's bill, S. 2146.
ell your Senators to support the ban on packer ownership of cattle, S. 2141, and the Livestock Marketing Fairness Act, S. 1026. Go to WORC's Action Page.
People living with EnCana’s gas development, near Pavillion, Wyoming have put up with contaminated groundwater for over 10 years. Their water has turned black, tastes bad, and reeks of hydrocarbons. The air they breath is foul. Some have lost their sense of taste and smell and suffer chronic headaches, while others have severe neurological conditions and cancer. Property values have sunk.
Urge the EPA to continue using sound science to identify what's polluting Pavillion area goundwater and to stand strong against political attempts to influence their investigation
Coal ash ponds leak cancer-causing chemicals in more than 100 sites across the country, endangering the water and health of people who live nearby. Residents living close to coal ash pits and ponds support the strongest controls, the "Subtitle C" rule, proposed by EPA.
Send your message telling President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to protect water and human health by stopping toxic coal ash leaks.
Congressional leaders will soon decide the future of the U.S. wind industry. Contact your Senators and Representative today to urge them to support the wind Production Tax Credit.
We have 24 hours to keep the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline out of a Senate bill.
The Senate could vote as early as Tuesday to greenlight construction of the pipeline -- bypassing environmental review and overturning President Obama's rejection of Keystone XL last month. Over 400,000 have signed the petition already. (Action completed)
A plan by Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar would undermine coal mine reclamation by moving the Office of Surface Mining into the much larger Bureau of Land Management. The proposal would combine two distinctly separate programs -- creating a big conflict of interest.
Tell Secretary Salazar that this is a bad idea.
In the first quarter of 2011, for the first time U.S. clean renewable energy sources produced more power than nuclear plants. This is great news, but this renewable energy rise could go bust if Congress allows a critical tax credit to expire on December 31. Contact your Senators and Representative today.
Politicians in Washington want to force approval of the controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, leaving critical safety, property rights and environmental problems with the pipeline unanswered, and short-circuiting our country’s environmental protections. Contact your Senators and Representative today.
You have until Nov. 30 to help clear the air of pollution from oil and gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Act today! (Action completed)
Send a message to your Senators today to stop an attack by a virtual monopoly that wants to take total control of America’s meat supply. Vote expected Monday or Tuesday. (Action completed)
Coal ash ponds are leaking toxic chemicals at more than 100 sites across the country, endangering the health of people who live nearby. State regulatory agencies have failed to act, so the Environmental Protection Agency is trying to finalize new national rules to prevent this kind of pollution.
But the coal industry’s cronies in Congress are trying to stop EPA. (Action completed)
It’s crunch time for President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to decide whether to OK the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Tell them that this dangerous pipeline is not in the national interest. (Action completed,)
USDA’s animal traceability rule is a solution in search of a problem. USDA says the rule is to protect animal health. But, the rules don’t identify any specific problems or diseases of concern.
These regulations will harm rural businesses, waste taxpayer dollars, and do little to deal with animal disease, food security, and food safety. (Action completed)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed new landmark clean air rules for oil and gas drilling. Visit WORC’s Action Page and tell EPA to make the final rules as strong as possible – there is no such thing as “too safe” for controls on pollution from fracking. (Action completed)
Actress Daryl Hannah made a big Splash when she joined more than 700 others who have been arrested protesting the proposed Keystone XL pipeline in front of the White House over the last two weeks. She was sending a message to President Obama: the Keystone XL pipeline is not in the national interest. (Action completed)
Robert Abbey, director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), said BLM is seriously considering making big oil and companies disclose chemicals used in oil and gas development. (Action completed)
Tell the White House, the EPA, and the Army Corps of Engineers to close the Clean Water Act loophole that allows multinational mining corporations to use our clean waters as a toxic mine waste dumps. Go to WORC's Action Page. (Action completed)
H.R. 2584 would harm public health by preventing the Environmental Protection Agency from:
- Regulating coal ash a hazardous waste,
- Protecting streams from coal mining, and
- Clarifying that headwaters streams are protected under the Clean Water Act.
And, the bill would allow uranium mining in the Grand Canyon! Take action today. (Action completed)
The Western Area Power Administration is a federal agency that markets clean, renewable hydropower in the West. The agency is looking into adding a new power generating resource to supplement its hydropower. Encourage WAPA to opt for clean, renewable energy that won't run out, like wind energy. (Action completed)
In the shadow of the Exxon oil spill in the Yellowstone River, the House of Representatives is expected to vote soon on a bill to speed up the environmental review of the proposed Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline. This pipeline would cross the Yellowstone. And the Missouri. And the Ogallala aquifer. Contact your Representative today. (Action completed)
The House of Representatives is about to vote on a bill, H.R. 2354, that would prevent federal agencies from protecting western headwaters streams from pollution. Visit WORC's Action Page to contact your Representative. (Action completed)
President Barack Obama has an opportunity to keep a promise. As a candidate, he said he would fight for America’s family farmers and ranchers. Call the White House by June 23 and urge the President to use his authority to implement the fair market, anti-monopoly rule NOW. Tell the President that it’s time to fight for family farmer and ranchers. Go to WORC's Action Page. (Action completed)
The Senate is expected to consider amendments that would block or delay the Environmental Protection Agency from protecting public health from carbon emissions by large polluters. Contact your Senators today. (Action completed)
Contact your Congressional delegation today and tell them that we can’t afford to cut clean air, clean water and clean, renewable energy that will never run out. Take action here. (Action completed)
Two years ago, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fix the problems of unfair practices and market manipulation in livestock markets. USDA’s proposed solution, the fair livestock marketing rule, is now under ferocious attack by a handful of powerful meat-packing corporations and their cronies in Congress. Send a message supporting the fair livestock marketing rule to your Senators and Representative. (Action completed)
It’s time to contact your Senators and tell them to fund clean water, clean air and clean energy programs. Go to WORC’s Action Page. (Action completed)
As soon as today, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a Continuing Resolution budget bill that puts clean water, clean air and clean, renewable energy programs on the chopping block. Take action today.(Action completed)
If you haven’t sent comments to rein in the meatpacker monopoly yet, it’s time to do that now. Comments are due Monday, November 22. (Action completed)
The Environmental Protection Agency is deciding how to deal with coal combustion residuals, or coal ash. WORC supports regulating coal ash under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act because it is the only way to ensure proper disposal of toxic coal ash. Take action today. (Action completed)
If you have not already done so, or if you feel your Senator has not yet committed to support small local food systems by voting for the Tester amendment, contact your Senators as soon as possible. S.510, the Federal Food Safety Modernization Act, stands a strong likelihood of coming to the full Senate for a vote this week. (Action completed)
The House may take action as soon as today on the Child Nutrition Act reauthorization. The law will expire on Sept. 30 without. Contact your Representative today to urge the House to pass a stronger child nutrition bill with full funding for Farm to School programs! (Action completed)
In early August, TransCanada dropped its application to the Department of Transportation for a waiver of standard limits on pressure in its proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. But there is a catch. TransCanada could re-apply for the waiver after the pipeline is built. And TransCanada already has permission to operate the Keystone I pipeline at higher than normal pressure. Send a message to TransCanada - keep the pressure down! (Action completed)
On June 10, the U.S. Senate will vote on Senator Lisa Murkowski's (R-AK) "Dirty Air Act," which would reject the Environmental Protection Agency’s finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health. Tell your Senators that you oppose all moves to gut the Clean Air Act and reverse the finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health. (Action completed)
Senator Leahy (D-VT) and Representative DeFazio (D-OR) are circulating a Congressional sign-on letter to their colleagues in Congress asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to maintain the ban on GM alfalfa. Contact your Senators and Representative today. Ask them to sign the “Dear Colleague Letter to USDA about Banning GM Alfalfa.”(Action completed)
TransCanada wants to build a pipeline to carry dirty tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and on to the Texas Gulf Coast. TransCanada wants a permit from the State Department to cross the border, and it wants to use thinner pipe more prone to leaks and spills for most of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline’s 1,300 mile route. Send in comments by June 16. (Action completed)
Senator Jon Tester of Montana announced he will introduce a common sense amendments to S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act. Contact your Senators to ensure that the federal reforms do not hobble the resurgence of vibrant local food systems, farmers and processors. (Action completed)
Support the Farm to School Programs - contact your Senators and ask them to become a co-sponsor of S. 3123, the Growing Farm to School Programs Act! See fact sheet. (Action completed)
WORC members and allies are reaching out to Senators to fix the Federal Food Safety Bill by removing small, local food direct market facilities and farms from the reach of FDA regulations. (Action completed)
In its draft Environmental Impact Statement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture claims there is no evidence that consumers care about genetically modified alfalfa. Furthermore, USDA has completely dismissed the fact that GM contamination will threaten farmers' domestic and export markets and organic dairy and meat products. It is time to tell USDA that it is wrong. Comments due March 3. (Action completed)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a proposed to classify coal ash as “hazardous” and set federal standards for the first time. But the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has delayed release of EPA’s proposed rules that would protect human health and water resources. Contact OMB today. (Action completed)
Call members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and ask them to stand up for a healthy fresh local food alternatives to the highly concentrated and vertically integrated food system. S.510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, will be marked up Wednesday and members need to get the message! (Action completed)
The Clean Air Act is one of our nation’s most successful and necessary public health laws with a proven track record for reducing pollution from the dirtiest sources. Unfortunately, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) has announced that he is pushing for a major rollback of the Clean Air Act in the Senate climate change bill, S. 1733. Please take Action Today to protect the Clean Air Act. (Action completed)
The Director of the Office of Surface Mining makes a crucial difference in stopping destructive practices such as longwall mining, filling mines with Coal Combustion Waste (CCW), and mountaintop removal mining. Joseph Pizarchik is the wrong choice to serve as the OSM Director. Call or email your Senators today. (Action completed)
Call or email your U.S. Senators to urge them to fix flawed Federal Food Safety Legislation (S.510) so it does not stall the newly emerging small businesses built around fresh, wholesome local foods, direct market farmers and small local processors processing local foods for local markets. (Action completed)
The Senate is expected to consider the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill as soon as Wednesday evening, July 29. Senator Tester will introduce an amendment to cut funding for the National Animal Identification System in half. Call or email your Senators today and ask them to support the Tester Amendment to cut NAIS funding. (Action completed.)
Legislation has been introduced in Congress to protect public lands and correct the enduring and serious problems of the outdated 1872 Mining Law. Your help is needed to take the next step – securing more cosponsors in both the House of Representatives and Senate. (Action completed)
Hydraulic fracturing is used widely throughout the oil and gas industry. Although an effective technique for increasing oil and gas production, it has the potential to harm human health and the environment. Contact your members of Congress to protect drinking water from toxic chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. (Action completed)
The House of Representatives is trying to address the worst problems in agriculture, but the legislation as it stands threatens the best things in agriculture – small farmers producing for local markets. (Action completed.)
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday, June 9, 2009 on an amendment from Colorado Senator Mark Udall that would help protect private landowners who face serious damage to their land when the federal oil and gas beneath their property is leased and drilled. (Action completed June 11, 2009)
The Clean Water Act has cleaned up polluted rivers and lakes. But recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings question whether the act applies to intermittent and ephemeral streams, the lifeblood of the West. Urge your Senators to cosponsor the Clean Water Restoration Act, which would clarify that the Clean Water Act applies to intermittent and ephemeral streams. (Action completed)
Over the next several weeks, both houses of Congress will decide the Nation's energy policy. Now is a critical time to tell your representatives that we need strong national standards for clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency to generate jobs, save ratepayers money, and reduce pollution. (Action completed)
Send your comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture about changes to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help family farmers and ranchers move to more sustainable production. (Action completed)
Congress has adjourned for a two-week break, through April 20. When your Senators return to DC, they'll debate and vote on an energy bill. If your Senators are coming to your area, go ask them to support:
- Stronger protections for private landowners who own the surface above federal oil and gas.
- A federal renewable electricity standard that ensures we will generate at least 20% of our electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2020.
- No more taxpayer funds for liquid coal.
Or send them an email message. (Action completed April 20, 2009)
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to begin voting on a new energy bill soon. We're urging the Senate to include new protections for split estate landowners in this bill.
If you're a split estate landowner affected by oil and gas development, click here.
If you aren't a split estate landowner, but want to support better protections of surface landowners, click here. (Action completed)
A Canadian company wants to build a pipeline to carry dirty tar sands oil through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and on to the Texas Gulf Coast. Farmers, ranchers, and the rural communities along the route will get all of the impacts and none of the oil.
And yet the company, TransCanada, wants to use thinner pipe more prone to leaks and spills for most of its 1,300 mile route.
TransCanada needs a permit from the U.S. State Department to build this pipeline. The State Department is taking comments on the issues it should consider in an environmental impact statement.
Please send a message to the State Department by April 15, 2009. Tell them the pipeline isn't in the public's best interest if the health, safety and livelihoods of the farmers, ranchers and rural communities along the route aren't fully protected. (Action completed)
Urge your Representative to cosponsor the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009, H.R. 699. (Action completed)
President Obama is visiting Canada today. In his campaign,he committed to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This trip could set the stage. (Action completed)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking another step to force ranchers, farmers and all other livestock owners to be part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). (Action completed)
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