• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Organic Seed Alliance

Advancing ethical seed solutions to meet food and farming needs in a changing world

  • News
  • Programs
    • Research
    • Education
    • Advocacy
  • Publications
    • All Publications
    • How-to Guides
    • Reports
    • Webinars
    • Worksheets & Record-keeping
    • Conference Proceedings
  • Resources
    • State of Organic Seed
    • Organic Seed Producers & Intern Host Farm Directory
    • Variety Trial Tool
    • Seed Patent Watch
    • Seed Internship Program & Organic Seed Production Online Course
    • Seed Economics Toolkit
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Organic Seed Growers Conference
    • COVID-19 Protocols
  • Media
  • About
    • Staff Directory
    • Board & Advisors
    • Our Story
    • Our Values
    • Our Alliance
    • Commitment to Racial Equity
    • Business Partners
    • Annual Report
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
  • Give

Seed Policy · May 17, 2019

Take Action on the Agriculture Research Integrity Act 

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has proposed moving the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Economic Research Service (ERS) out of the Washington, D.C. area, in addition to shifting authority over ERS from the Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics to the Office of the Secretary.

Please help us resist these changes by asking your congressional members to co-sponsor the Agriculture Research Integrity Act (ARIA), which protects the important research carried out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In the House:

Current co-sponsors of the Agriculture Research Integrity Act (HR 1221) include: Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [D-GA-2], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Fudge, Marcia L. [D-OH-11], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20], Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2], Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-8], Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large], and Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2].

In the Senate:

Current co-sponsors of the Senate version of te Agriculture Research Integrity Act include: Senators Van Hollen [D-MD], Cardin [D-MD], Kaine [D-VA], Warner [D-VA], Leahy [D-VT], Merkley [D-OR], Murray [D-WA], and Brown [D-OH].

If your members are listed above, be sure to thank them! If they’re not listed, find your members through this directory for the House of Representatives and this directory for the Senate and give them a call to ask for their co-sponsorship.

The scientific research that US agriculture depends on cannot be hollowed out when we need it the most. The proposed relocation and reorganization of NIFA and ERS unnecessarily threatens the integrity and robustness of this critical work. Over 80 current and former university agricultural administration leaders and former USDA chief scientists have voiced their opposition to this proposal, as have over 100 organizations.

These bills would require the USDA to keep the agencies within the capital area and keep ERS within the purview of the Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics so it can remain free of even the appearance of political influence.

Help us resist these changes to agricultural research by calling for support of the Agriculture Research Integrity Act today!  

If you contact your member, please document your calls and emails here so that the coalition can track progress.

A version of this post was first published by Friends of Agricultural Statistics and Analysis.

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Categories: Seed Policy

Kiki Hubbard

Kristina (Kiki) Hubbard is the director of advocacy and communications for Organic Seed Alliance. She currently leads efforts to promote policies and actions that support organic seed systems, including managing OSA’s State of Organic Seed project.

Latest Tweets

Thanks to @chelliepingree for joining NSAC’s summer mtg this afternoon & for identifying farmer-driven policy solutions to our climate crisis 🌎 @sustainableag pic.twitter.com/nTxr…

About a week ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Interested in organic policy work? The Coalition for #Organic & Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) has a position open to help advance their WA-based policy goals. More details below. twitter.com/tilthall…

About 3 weeks ago · reply · retweet · favorite

"It’s not too late to change course...The administration would be wise to choose that path." – OSA's Kiki Hubbard on @USDAgov's inquiry on competition concerns in the seed industry as related to Intellectual Property Rights #IPR. @thehill thehill.com/opinion/…

About 2 months ago · reply · retweet · favorite

🌟 Thanks for joining last week's Showcase, @plantgoodseed!! twitter.com/plantgoo…

About 2 months ago · reply · retweet · favorite

✏️ 1 week left to MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Submit comments on seed industry #consolidation and #IPR to USDA through June 15. (1/5) seedalliance.org/202…

About 2 months ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Follow @Seed_Alliance

Footer

Advancing ethical seed solutions to meet food and farming needs in a changing world

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 Organic Seed Alliance · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design