FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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November 9, 2001

Miller Joins Southeastern Senators to Co-Sponsor Bipartisan Farm Bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) today joined with some of his Southeastern colleagues in the Senate to co-sponsor a bipartisan bill to rewrite federal farm policy for the next 10 years.

The bill, which is closely modeled after the Farm Bill that passed in the House last month, gives maximum flexibility to producers, increases successful conservation programs and provides a strong safety net to farmers in times of economic and weather-related disasters.

For Georgia, where agriculture is the top industry and provides one of every six jobs, the bill strengthens the peanut and cotton programs. Specifically, Georgia's peanut industry is united as never before behind the bill's marketing loan concept for peanuts.

"This bill is good for Georgia farmers and I am proud to be a co-sponsor," Miller said. "It is a balanced, bipartisan approach that addresses the very real economic problems in rural America and uses market-oriented policies to fix them."

Nationally, agriculture is in its fourth year of recession with commodity prices at an all-time low and production costs at an all-time high. Miller said it is crucial for Congress to pass a new Farm Bill this year rather than delaying it until next year when the current Farm Bill expires.

"We all know we need to stimulate the economy, and I think a great place to start would be on our farms," Miller said. "The economic jolt from a new Farm Bill would be felt not only in tractor, chemical and irrigation sales, but it would also filter into the local banks, car dealerships, restaurants and department stores."

The bill was introduced today by Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Tim Hutchinson (R-AR), and it is co-sponsored by Miller and Sens. Jesse Helms (R-NC), John Breaux (D-LA) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA).

The legislation expands participation for soil and water conservation programs by almost 80 percent above current budget trends. Specifically, it raises the cap in the Conservation Reserve program to 39.2 million acres, and provides $1.3 billion annually for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

On trade, the bill reauthorizes the Market Access Program with an increase of $180 million a year and increases funding for the Food for Progress program by $100 million over 10 years. Additionally, the bill will help open new markets through greater support and flexibility for a host of other programs designed to open new markets to American producers.

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