Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer (D-Ala.) met with farmers from across the Tennessee Valley today to announce that the House of Representatives has approved the conference report of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, more commonly referred to as the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill authorizes $167 billion over the next ten years for commodities, conservation programs, nutrition, research, trade, and rural development.

"I've spoken with farmers throughout the Tennessee Valley about this bill," said Cramer. "And I'm pleased to announce that we passed a good bill that helps the family farmer. American farmers are under the most severe economic pressure they've seen since the Depression. This bill helps farmers in the short-term, but also builds a foundation for long-term recovery. With this bill, we showed farmers that we have not forgotten that they are the backbone of the economy in our state and our nation."

The Farm Bill will continue to give North Alabama farmers the flexibility to choose which crops to plant and implements a safety net to help farmers in tough times. Commodity programs are increased by 80 percent with $41 billion going toward "program crops" such as cotton. The counter-cyclical safety net will keep the assistance provided in the 1996 Farm Bill and reinstates the program that helps family farmers in times when commodity prices are extremely low. The Farm Bill improves on conservation programs, as well, by increasing conservation funds to $17.1 billion.