FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2002
| WASHINGTON – Senator Tom Daschle today praised
the passage of the new farm bill by the Senate by a vote of 58 to 40.
While noting that repeated delays caused this to be the longest farm bill
debate in 30 years, Daschle stressed that passage of this bill is crucial
for the livelihoods and well-being of farmers, ranchers, and all of rural
America. Following passage, Daschle called for an immediate conference so
that the bill can quickly become law and USDA can begin getting help to
America's farmers and ranchers.
"The Senate's action today sends the message to farmers and ranchers that they are a priority," Daschle said. "While this bill is long overdue, the Senate has now passed a farm bill and a farm policy that is good for rural America. This bill provides certainty for producers, an increased commitment to conservation, expanded nutrition, provisions making farmers and ranchers more competitive, and needed assistance for rural development." "Agriculture and the farm economy provide over $1.3 trillion to our economy, and account for 24 million jobs," Daschle continued. "Rural America comprises 80 percent of our nation's land mass and 20 percent of our population. Our nation literally cannot afford to leave rural America behind, and yet rural America is hurting like never before – in large part due to the failure of our current farm policy." "Farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and across America have been telling Washington that they need a new farm bill for years now. Farmers have already seen prices drop every single year since the current farm bill was approved," Daschle said. "They're getting roughly half of the prices they were receiving in 1996, and it will only get worse without this bill." USDA warns that farm incomes could drop another 20 percent this year, and a recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that farmers and ranchers are expected to lose 328,000 jobs over the next 10 years – more than any other sector of the US economy. Daschle stressed the necessity of an immediate conference and said that unless Congress passes this bill now and gets a new law soon, USDA will not be able to implement it for this crop year leaving farm families to rely on a law so flawed that is has necessitated a grant of emergency assistance for the last four years. "Make no mistake, passage of this bill is essential for the survival of rural America," Daschle said. "With this bill, we have a chance to provide certainty to producers, fix our failed farm safety net, and help address the challenges we face in rural America." |