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FARM SECURITY ACT OF 2002 (H.R. 2646) -- HON. TODD TIAHRT (Extensions of
Remarks - May 10, 2002)
[Page: E760] GPO's PDF
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HON. TODD TIAHRT
OF KANSAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, May 9, 2002
- Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, today I offer my congratulations to Chairman
COMBEST, the Ranking Member, Mr. STENHOLM, and the 2002 Farm Bill conferees for their hard work in
crafting a bipartisan bill that
will help America's farmers.
- The Farm Security Act of
2002 is the product of 50 hearings over two years. I am pleased that we were
able to pass a farm bill that maintains the
market-oriented features of the 1996 Farm Bill while fully complying with the
Congressional Budget Resolution. This Farm Bill is critically needed by our
nation's farmers who are facing the lowest real net cash income on the farm since the Great Depression.
Record high costs of production combined with the fifth straight year of
record low prices necessitated the quick passage of a farm bill that addresses these critical
issues.
- Americans rely on a consistent supply of nutritious food, and our farmers
are the ones working hard to make this possible. Not only do they supply food
for us domestically, but they also are the hands that feed the world. Our
farmers deserve our support, and I was pleased to vote in favor of this
bipartisan Farm Bill .
- Mr. Speaker, despite my support for this bill , I do want to go on record as
having serious reservations about the price tag the Farm Bill could have for taxpayers. There
is no doubt we need a strong farm bill , which I support. But I am
concerned we are voting today on an overinflated six-year bill that has the potential to cost
taxpayers far more than the estimated $170 billion. We must guard against
turning the family farm into the
federal government's farm . My
concern is that this bill ,
while containing good provisions, is dangerously close to moving beyond
reasonable support for farmers into warding the family farm to the welfare state.
- The American dream for agricultural producers is not a land of
neo-government farms, but rather individual opportunity to succeed by
profitably working the land they love and own. This is the farmer's dream.
Then, when help is needed due to unforseen events like natural disasters,
Uncle Sam can offer assistance that encourages and motivates.
- Another concern is that the 2002 Farm Bill abuses agriculture subsidies by
reviving price supports for commodities such as mohair, wool and honey. It
also distorts the market by adding subsidies for milk, peanuts, lentils and
chickpeas. I am disappointed that provisions in the Farm Security Act of 2002 succumbed to
the pressures of special interest groups while ignoring the best interests of
the citizens and farmers I represent and the American taxpayer.
- Despite disagreeing with many of this bill's provisions, I will vote in
favor of the Farm Bill , because overall, it provides
much-needed farm policy for the
next six years and will help America's farmers. Without this bill , we would have automatically
been forced back to 1938/1949 permanent farm laws, which would have devastated
our economy.
- Mr. Speaker, I hear from many constituents in the Fourth District of
Kansas who care deeply about conservation. I am pleased to tell them that the
Farm Security Act of 2002 builds
on the current voluntary incentive programs for conservation that have proven
to work. Farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity to participate in new
conservation programs as well. I am pleased to know that the men and women who
work the land and care most about it are the ones who are being provided with
the power and means to better protect the soil, water and wildlife through the
various conservation programs.
- This farm bill includes more than $200 million
in federal funding for the Commodity Credit Corporation Bioenergy Program,
which will help advance the production of biofuels, including ethanol. I have
had many Kansans tell me they support continued investment into ethanol
production as a fuel source. The 2002 Farm Bill provides federal assistance to
bioenergy producers who purchase agricultural commodities for the purpose of
expanding products of biodiesel and fuel grade ethanol.
- Mr. Speaker, past farm
program levels for sorghum have distorted the market and reduced incentives to
plant grain sorghum. I was pleased to see this disparity addressed in the
Farm Bill . Equity for Kansas feed grains
is important to Kansas farmers, and I strongly support this corrective
provision.
- I am also pleased that the food stamp program has been simplified allowing
states more flexibility in helping those in financial poverty. With the
reduction of state reporting requirements, we are allowing states to require
households to report changes in household circumstances not less often than
once every six months in lieu of reporting changes as they occur. Another
simplification in the food stamp program provided for in the Farm Bill allows states the option to
exclude, rather than deduct, child support payments, and it allows the use of
the Child Support Enforcement Agency data to determine the amount of support
paid.
- Kansas farmers rely heavily on trade with other countries. With forty
percent of U.S. commodities going into the export market, it is essential that
producers have access to expanded markets. The 2002 Farm Bill answers this need by comporting
with the United States' international trade obligations under the WTO. This
allows for the promotion of more free trade for our future. Furthermore, the
Farm Bill makes substantial investments in
programs designed to aid in the creation, expansion and maintenance of foreign
markets for U.S. agriculture products.
- Generous support for the Market Access Program, the Food for Progress
Program, the Food for Peace Program, the Foreign Market Development Program
and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition
Program are a few examples of how this Farm Bill helps expand our markets while
sharing our bounty with the needy in developing countries around the
globe.
- Mr. Speaker, research has been recognized in this Farm Bill as being the key to keeping U.S.
producers competitive in the world market. The Farm Security Act of 2002 makes a
significant new investment in research programs that will help reap rewards
for producers and our society for generations to come.
- The Farm Bill makes significant investments in
improving rural development. Rural development programs are important to
sustaining communities by aiding in the development of infrastructure and job
creation in rural areas. Our small communities across this country benefit
from these programs, and I am pleased that this farm bill recognizes their importance to
our American way of life.
- Getting broadband Internet service to our rural communities is also a
concern I have. With the passage of the 2002 Farm Bill , we will be providing a total of
$100 million to provide loans and loan guarantees to allow rural consumers
access to high-speed, high-quality broadband services.
- Finally, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to know that value added market
development grants have been expanded to meet producers' interests in
start-up, farmer-owned, value-added processing facilities. These grants will
help establish resource centers to assist producers in value-added endeavors.
The Farm Bill recognizes the importance of
enabling producers to capture more of the value of their commodities.