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Congressional Record article 8 of 550

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DELAY IMPLEMENTATION OF FARM SECURITY ACT UNTIL NEXT YEAR -- HON. J. RANDY FORBES (Extensions of Remarks - March 21, 2002)

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HON. J. RANDY FORBES OF VIRGINIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, March 20, 2002

Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I understand that yesterday the lead negotiators for the
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Farm Bill informed us that they would ``be in a position to make the final farm bill decisions in public meetings of the Conference the week of April 9,'' according to a joint statement released by the top conferees.

April 9th is far too late to begin implementing this complex legislation, as was March 22nd or even January 1st, and I believe that it is now essential to delay implementation of the Farm Security Act until next year.

The planting season has already begun in many states across the country. As each day passes by without a new bill , America's farmers are digging themselves into deeper and deeper holes.

We all know that farmers are not just planters, but planners, and most farmers thought it to be vitally important to have the farm bill in place at the end of last year. Now that it may be mid-summer before the USDA is effectively able to administer the provisions in the new Farm Bill , it could prove to be overwhelmingly detrimental for our agricultural community, especially in southeastern Virginia.

In addition to helping the farmers by delaying the bill one more year, we will be saving the government an estimated $299 million dollars by delaying the new ``peanut subsidy program'' and continuing to use the current system, which has no net cost to the government.

A Farm Bill is certainly needed, but the timing is important. Implementing the new Farm Bill this late in the season would be an incredible injustice to our farmers.