| Congressional Organic Caucus
Urge Your Representative
to Join Why
the Organic Caucus?
The Organic Caucus is a bipartisan association of congressional
members dedicated to enhancing availability and understanding of
information related to the production and processing of organic
agricultural products. The caucus serves public interest by promoting
sound policies and funding to advance organic production and marketing.
How to Contact Your Representative
To find out if your representative is on the Organic Caucus, check
our Caucus membership list. If not, get the office number by calling
the US Capitol Switchboard at: (202) 224-3121. Ask for your representative
by name. Once your call is transferred, ask for the Legislative
Assistant handling agriculture.
What to Say
1) Introduce yourself. Briefly tell the legislative assistant who
you are, where you are from, and what your interest in organic is
(particularly if it relates to your business or farm).
2) Say you’d like your representative to
be on the Organic Caucus because:
The organic food industry, with an average annual
growth rate of 20% a year, continues to be one of the fastest
growing sectors in agriculture. Various estimates state that US
retail sales in 2002 totaled between $8.5 and $12 billion.
As of October 2002, the United States has new
national organic standards in effect. In spite of rapid growth,
organic agriculture priorities are not sufficiently reflected
in the current government’s research agenda or fiscal commitments.
Because of its ability to minimize impacts on
soil, air and water quality, organic agriculture provides a unique
opportunity to increase sustainable business practices, protect
the environment, and preserve natural resources.
By joining the Organic Caucus, your representative
will receive timely information on relevant policy issues and
will be in a position to support organic businesses in their district.
3) Invite your representative to visit your organic
farm, research project, or business the next time they are in the
district.
4) Suggest they contact the Organic Farming Research
Foundation at (831) 426-6606 to find out how many organic growers
are in their district.
5) Direct them to contact one of the followin
Organic Caucus co-Chairs in order to join the Caucus or just find
out more about it:
Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) - David DeGennaro, Legislative
Assistant,
202-225-5506 (phone)
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) - Tammy Fisher, Legislative Director,
202-225-5311 (phone)
6) After making the call, contact Mark Lipson
at the Organic Farming Research Foundation at (831) 426-6606, to
let us know your representative has been contacted, and to give
us a sense of what his or her level of interest is. |
