Press Releases
Below are Food & Water Watch Press releases:
Financing for Clean Water Trust Fund Must Come From Taxes on Non-Discretionary Water-Based Bottled Beverages
2009-06-30
Press Statement: This week, the United States Government Accountability Office issued a report to Congress outlining options for generating the $10 billion in annual revenue needed to establish a Clean Water Trust Fund to upgrade our nation’s aging water infrastructure system. The report, entitled Clean Water Infrastructure: A Variety of Issues Need to Be Considered When Designing a Clean Water Trust Fund highlights a number of sources for Congress to consider, including taxes on bottled beverages, fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and water appliances. Food & Water Watch recognizes the need to draw from diverse funding sources to finance this critical undertaking. It is our suggestion however, that any funding package that Congress arrives at must include an excise tax on water-based bottled beverages.
U.S. House of Representatives Approves Water Infrastructure Funding, Food & Water Watch Urges Senate to Follow Suit
2009-06-29
Press Statement: “Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Environmental Protection Agency appropriation, which allocates $3.9 billion to help over 1,500 communities improve their drinking water and wastewater systems. This legislation includes $2.3 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to ensure that our nation’s water meets the goals of the Clean Water Act; $1.4 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to protect public health by improving drinking water systems; and $160 million for direct grants to communities for water infrastructure. Food & Water Watch applauds the House for voting to improve our country’s ailing water infrastructure system, and urges the Senate to also pass this vital piece of legislation.
JBS Swift Beef Recall Exposes Critical Gaps in USDA E. Coli Policy
2009-06-29
Press Statement: "The weaknesses in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) policy on E. coli are becoming very clear, thanks to the latest recall of beef for E. coli 0157:H7. This weekend’s announcement that the recall of beef products from a JBS Swift Beef Company plant in Greeley, Colorado had been expanded is just the latest illustration of why USDA’s policies must be strengthened."
Despite Rising Consumer Demand for Healthy Meat Products, Small Slaughterhouses Continue to Decline
2009-06-24
Press Release: A new report issued today by Food & Water Watch examines how the slow demise of local small slaughter and processing operations in the U.S. is preventing farmers and ranchers from fully satisfying rising consumer demand for meat from sustainably raised livestock.
New Survey: Fishermen Oppose Controversial Management Plan
2009-06-22
Press Release: Today, Food & Water Watch released the results of a re-referendum on a controversial fishery management plan in the Gulf of Mexico. Designed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, the plan is known as an Individual Fishing Quota, or IFQ, and aims to manage the grouper and tilefish fisheries of the Gulf by dividing the amount of fish caught among fishermen, based on the amount they have caught in the past—essentially privatizing the resource. The re-referendum sent questionnaires to reef fish permitholders who were excluded from the earlier vote on the plan. One hundred seventy-two fishermen responded to the questionnaire. An overwhelming majority—nearly 90 percent—would not have approved the plan had they been included in the initial vote.
Food & Water Watch Lauds House Appropriations Committee for Approving Water Infrastructure Funding, Urges Congress to Adopt Clean Water Trust Fund
2009-06-19
Press Statement: “This week, the United States House of Representatives Appropriations Committee passed the Environmental Protection Agency appropriation, which allocates $3.9 billion to help over 1500 communities improve their drinking water and wastewater systems. This legislation includes $2.3 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to ensure that our nation’s waters meet the goals of the Clean Water Act; $1.4 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to protect public health by improving drinking water systems; and $160 million for direct grants to communities for water infrastructure. Food & Water Watch applauds the Appropriations Committee and urges Congress to pass this important piece of legislation.
Consumer Safety on Track as Ban on Chinese Chicken Kept Intact
2009-06-19
Press Statement: “Food & Water Watch applauds the House Appropriations Committee for protecting consumers’ health by maintaining a ban on imported processed poultry products from China. Despite pressure from agribusiness to end the prohibition in the U.S. Department of Agriculture budget, the committee maintained the ban on poultry products from a country with weak food safety protections."
Food & Water Watch Applauds Effort to Close Loopholes in Great Lakes Compact
2009-06-19
Press Statement: "This week, Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI-1) introduced H. Res. 551 addressing loopholes in the Great Lakes Compact that allow for the commercial extraction of water from the lakes as long as it is placed in containers 5.7 gallons or smaller. Food & Water Watch commends Representative Stupak for this effort to prevent the commercialization of this vital natural resource and urges Congress to adopt this resolution.
Bi-Partisan Congressional Letter Urges Commerce Secretary to Disapprove Gulf Council Offshore Aquaculture Plan
2009-06-15
Press Statement: "Food & Water Watch commends Representative Lois Capps (CA-23), Representative Gene Taylor (MS-4) and Representative Sam Farr (CA-17) for leading the effort in Congress to prevent the controversial Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council ocean fish farming plan from moving forward."
Food & Water Watch Joins With Local Groups to Oppose Potential Privatization of Milwaukee’s Water System
2009-06-15
Press Release: Food & Water Watch, a national consumer advocacy group, today joined forces with the Keep Public Our Water (KPOW) coalition at a rally at City Hall to call on the Milwaukee Common Council to pass a resolution permanently suspending the proposal to lease Milwaukee’s Water Works and conclude its inquiry into privatizing the city’s water system. Faced with budget pressures, the city of Milwaukee had been considering leasing its water utility to a private company for 75 to 99 years in return for a one-time payment of up to $550 million to $600 million dollars. In addition to Food & Water Watch, Members of the KPOW coalition include AFSME Council 48; Campaign Against Violence; Midwest Environmental Advocates; Milwaukee Inner City Communities Allied for Hope; Milwaukee Renaissance; Milwaukee Riverkeeper; Water Works Local #952 and the Wisconsin League of Voters.