Senate Resolution 18 - Introduced

PAG LIN





  1  1                SENATE RESOLUTION NO.    
  1  2                       BY  BOLKCOM
  1  3 A Resolution requesting the legislative council to
  1  4    establish an interim study committee to consider
  1  5    methods to promote local food systems and the
  1  6    marketing of reasonably priced wholesome food.
  1  7    WHEREAS, there is an opportunity to consider
  1  8 methods to further a number of food policies important
  1  9 to the citizens of this state, including expanding
  1 10 rural economic development, reducing the incidence of
  1 11 hunger, improving the administration of government
  1 12 programs, and utilizing provisions of the Farm
  1 13 Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the federal
  1 14 farm bill); and
  1 15    WHEREAS, the general assembly, in cooperation with
  1 16 a diverse coalition of local governments and private
  1 17 interests, including farmers, processors, and
  1 18 retailers, may positively impact the production,
  1 19 processing, and distribution of fresh Iowa=grown food
  1 20 marketed on a community or regional basis; NOW
  1 21 THEREFORE,
  1 22    BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the legislative
  1 23 council is requested to establish an interim study
  1 24 committee consisting of members of both political
  1 25 parties from throughout the state in order to consider
  1 26 local food systems, including persons who produce
  1 27 commodities, processors of food products, and
  1 28 marketers of food products who operate within this
  1 29 state and, to every extent possible, within the same
  1 30 community or region of this state; and
  2  1    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the study committee
  2  2 consider methods to promote local food systems and the
  2  3 marketing of reasonably priced wholesome food; and
  2  4    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the study committee
  2  5 consider strategies to do all of the following:
  2  6    1.  Facilitate cooperation between producers,
  2  7 processors, and marketers who operate within the same
  2  8 region or community.
  2  9    2.  Remove obstacles to the establishment or
  2 10 expansion of local food systems, which may include the
  2 11 revision of government regulations and policies.
  2 12    3.  Expand markets for food derived from
  2 13 organically produced and processed commodities or
  2 14 specialty commodities.
  2 15    4.  Increase the amount of purchases of food
  2 16 products derived from commodities which have been
  2 17 locally produced and processed by institutional
  2 18 purchasers including governmental bodies.
  2 19    5.  Enhance campaigns to better educate consumers
  2 20 regarding the advantages of purchasing food products
  2 21 that are locally produced, processed, and marketed,
  2 22 including but not limited to advantages relating to
  2 23 freshness, taste, nutrition, and variety.
  2 24    6.  Encourage methods to ensure regional economic
  2 25 health, regional food self=reliance, and energy
  2 26 conservation by providing for increased investment in
  2 27 local production, processing, and marketing
  2 28 operations; and
  2 29    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the study committee
  2 30 prepare a final report which shall include findings
  3  1 and recommendations and which may include proposed
  3  2 legislation; and
  3  3    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee submit
  3  4 the final report to the legislative council for
  3  5 consideration by the Eighty=First General Assembly
  3  6 during the 2006 Legislative Session.
  3  7 LSB 2830SS 81
  3  8 da:nh/sh/8.2